Sustaining integrating imatinib and interferon-α into maintenance therapy improves survival of patients with Philadelphia positive acute lymphoblastic leukemia ineligible for allogeneic stem cell transplantation. Issue 10 (2nd October 2016)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Kuang, Pu; Liu, Ting; Pan, Ling; Zhu, Huanling; Wu, Yu; Ye, Yuanxin; Xiang, Bing; Ma, Hongbing; Chang, Hong; Niu, Ting; Cui, Xu; He, Chuan; Li, Jianjun; Ji, Jie; Huang, Jie; Dong, Tian; Dai, Yang; Lu, Xiaojun; Qing, Shenglan; Wu, Huaxin; Liang, Xiaogong; Wang, Xiaoyu; Wu, Chunnong
• Is Part Of: Leukemia & lymphoma. Volume 57:Issue 10(2016:Oct.)
• Page Start: 2321
• Page End: 2329
• Publication Date: 2016-10-02
• Subjects: Imatinib -- interferon-α -- long-term survival -- maintenance therapy -- Philadelphia chromosome positive acute lymphoblastic leukemia; Leukemia -- Periodicals; Lymphomas -- Periodicals; 616.99419
• DOI: 10.3109/10428194.2016.1144882
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1042-8194

Abstract

Abstract: We report the clinical results of sustainedly integrating imatinib and interferon-α into maintenance therapy in the patients ineligible for allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (allo-HSCT). Maintenance therapy lasted for 5 years with imatinib 400 mg daily, interferon-α 3 million units, 2∼3 doses per week, and chemotherapy including vindesine and dexamethasone scheduled monthly in first year, once every 2 months in second year, and once every 3 months in third year. The chemotherapy was discontinued after 3 years and the imatinib and interferon-α continued for another 2 years. For 41 patients without allo-HSCT with a median follow-up of 32 months, the 3-year DFS and OS were 42.7 ± 8.6% and 57.9 ± 8.4%, respectively. Our study suggests that sustaining maintenance with low-dose chemotherapy, imatinib and interferon-α improved survival of adult Philadelphia-positive acute lymphoblastic leukemia (Ph + ALL) patients ineligible for allo-HSCT, and even provided an opportunity for cure. BCR/ABL persistent negativity at 6 and 9 months may have benefit to choose suitable patients for the imatinib/interferon-α maintenance strategy.