RESUMEN
The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of a non-standard, intermittent imatinib treatment in elderly patients with Philadelphia-positive chronic myeloid leukaemia and to answer the question on which dose should be used once a stable optimal response has been achieved. Seventy-six patients aged ⩾65 years in optimal and stable response with ⩾2 years of standard imatinib treatment were enrolled in a study testing a regimen of intermittent imatinib (INTERIM; 1-month on and 1-month off). With a minimum follow-up of 6 years, 16/76 patients (21%) have lost complete cytogenetic response (CCyR) and major molecular response (MMR), and 16 patients (21%) have lost MMR only. All these patients were given imatinib again, the same dose, on the standard schedule and achieved again CCyR and MMR or an even deeper molecular response. The probability of remaining on INTERIM at 6 years was 48% (95% confidence interval 35-59%). Nine patients died in remission. No progressions were recorded. Side effects of continuous treatment were reduced by 50%. In optimal and stable responders, a policy of intermittent imatinib treatment is feasible, is successful in about 50% of patients and is safe, as all the patients who relapsed could be brought back to optimal response.
Asunto(s)
Antineoplásicos/administración & dosificación , Mesilato de Imatinib/administración & dosificación , Leucemia Mielógena Crónica BCR-ABL Positiva/tratamiento farmacológico , Anciano , Anciano de 80 o más Años , Antineoplásicos/efectos adversos , Femenino , Humanos , Mesilato de Imatinib/efectos adversos , Hibridación Fluorescente in Situ , Estimación de Kaplan-Meier , Leucemia Mielógena Crónica BCR-ABL Positiva/mortalidad , Masculino , Proyectos Piloto , Inducción de Remisión/métodosRESUMEN
Sixteen elderly patients affected by acute non lymphoblastic leukaemia (ANLL) with a preexisting severe internal disease were treated with a low systemic toxicity drugs combination: OAP (Vincristine, Cytarabine and Prednisone). Complete remission was achieved in 5 patients (31%) after 2 OAP courses. The mean duration of remission was 18 weeks. Six patients were resistant to the therapy. Six patients died during the treatment: 5 in induction phase and 1 in consolidation phase. Even though the duration of remission was short we retain that OAP combination may be still considered a good therapeutical approach in elderly ANLL patients with associated severe internal disease.