Improved survival in chronic myeloid leukemia since the introduction of imatinib therapy: a single-institution historical experience

Blood. 2012 Mar 1;119(9):1981-7. doi: 10.1182/blood-2011-08-358135. Epub 2012 Jan 6.

Abstract

A total of 1569 patients with chronic myeloid leukemia (CML) referred to our institution within 1 month of diagnosis since 1965 were reviewed: 1148 chronic phase (CP), 175 accelerated phase (AP), and 246 blastic phase (BP). The median survival was 8.9 years in CP, 4.8 years in AP, and 6 months in BP. In CP, the 8-year survival was ≤ 15% before 1983, 42%-65% from 1983-2000, and 87% since 2001. Survival was worse in older patients (P = .004), but this was less significant since 2001 (P = .07). Survival by Sokal risk was significantly different before 2001 (P < .001), but not since 2001 (P = .4). In AP, survival improved over time (P < .001); the 8-year survival in patients treated since 2001 was 75%. Survival by age was not different in years < 2001 (P = .09), but was better since 2001 in patients ≤ 70 years of age (P = .004). In BP, the median survival improved over time (P < .001), although it has been only 7 months since 2001. In summary, survival in CML has significantly improved since 2001, particularly so in CP-AML and AP-CML. Imatinib therapy minimized the impact of known prognostic factors and Sokal risk in CP-CML and accentuated the impact of age in AP- and BP-CML.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural

MeSH terms

  • Adolescent
  • Adult
  • Aged
  • Aged, 80 and over
  • Antineoplastic Agents / therapeutic use*
  • Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / therapeutic use
  • Benzamides
  • Child
  • Child, Preschool
  • Female
  • Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation
  • Humans
  • Imatinib Mesylate
  • Leukemia, Myelogenous, Chronic, BCR-ABL Positive / mortality*
  • Leukemia, Myelogenous, Chronic, BCR-ABL Positive / therapy*
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Piperazines / therapeutic use*
  • Prognosis
  • Protein Kinase Inhibitors / therapeutic use*
  • Pyrimidines / therapeutic use*
  • Survival Analysis
  • Young Adult

Substances

  • Antineoplastic Agents
  • Benzamides
  • Piperazines
  • Protein Kinase Inhibitors
  • Pyrimidines
  • Imatinib Mesylate