Blood online
Home About Blood Authors Subscriptions Permission Advertising Public Access contact us
 

 
Advanced
Current Issue
First Edition
Future Articles
Archives
Submit to Blood
Search
American Society of Hematology
Meeting Abstracts
Email Alerts
This Article
Right arrow Abstract Freely available
Right arrow Full Text (PDF)
Right arrow Alert me when this article is cited
Right arrow Alert me if a correction is posted
Right arrow Citation Map
Services
Right arrow Email this article to a friend
Right arrow Similar articles in this journal
Right arrow Similar articles in PubMed
Right arrow Alert me to new issues of the journal
Right arrow Download to citation manager
Right arrow reprints & permissions
Right arrow Rights and Permissions
Citing Articles
Right arrow Citing Articles via HighWire
Right arrow Citing Articles via CrossRef
Right arrow Citing Articles via Google Scholar
Google Scholar
Right arrow Articles by Sawyers, C. L.
Right arrow Articles by Druker, B. J.
Right arrow Search for Related Content
PubMed
Right arrow PubMed Citation
Right arrow Articles by Sawyers, C. L.
Right arrow Articles by Druker, B. J.
Related Collections
Right arrow Neoplasia
Right arrow Clinical Trials and Observations
Social Bookmarking
 Add to CiteULike   Add to Connotea   Add to Del.icio.us   Add to Digg   Add to Reddit   Add to Technorati  
What's this?

arrow to previous article Previous Article  |  Table of Contents  |  Next Article next article arrow

Blood, 15 May 2002, Vol. 99, No. 10, pp. 3530-3539

CLINICAL OBSERVATIONS, INTERVENTIONS, AND THERAPEUTIC TRIALS

Imatinib induces hematologic and cytogenetic responses in patients with chronic myelogenous leukemia in myeloid blast crisis: results of a phase II study

Charles L. Sawyers, Andreas Hochhaus, Eric Feldman, John M. Goldman, Carole B. Miller, Oliver G. Ottmann, Charles A. Schiffer, Moshe Talpaz, Francois Guilhot, Michael W. N. Deininger, Thomas Fischer, Steve G. O'Brien, Richard M. Stone, Carlo B. Gambacorti-Passerini, Nigel H. Russell, Jose J. Reiffers, Thomas C. Shea, Bernard Chapuis, Steven Coutre, Sante Tura, Enrica Morra, Richard A. Larson, Alan Saven, Christian Peschel, Alois Gratwohl, Franco Mandelli, Monique Ben-Am, Insa Gathmann, Renaud Capdeville, Ronald L. Paquette, and Brian J. Druker

From the Department of Medicine and Molecular Biology Institute, University of California, Los Angeles, CA; III. Medizinische Universitätsklinik Mannheim der Universität Heidelberg, Mannheim, Germany; New York Presbyterian Hospital-Weill Medical College of Cornell University, New York, NY; Department of Haematology, Hammersmith Hospital/ICSM, London, United Kingdom ; Johns Hopkins Oncology Center, Baltimore, MD; Medizinische Klinik III, Johann Wolfgang Goethe-Universität, Frankfurt, Germany; Barbara Ann Karmanos Cancer Institute, Wayne State University, Detroit, MI; MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX; Department of Oncology, Hematology and Cell Therapy, CHU de Poitiers, Poitiers, France; Abteilung Haematologie/Onkologie, Universität Leipzig, Germany; Universitätsklinikum, 3. Medizinische Klinik und Poliklinik, Mainz, Germany; Department of Haematology, Royal Victoria Infirmary, University of Newcastle upon Tyne, United Kingdom; Dana Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, MA; Hematology Section, San Gerardo Hospital, Monza, and Department of Experimental Oncology, National Cancer Institute, Milano, Italy; Department of Haematology, City Hospital, Nottingham, United Kingdom; Laboratoire de Greffe de Moelle, Universite Victor Segalen, Bordeaux, France; Division of Hematology/Oncology, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill; Division d'hématologie, Hopitâl cantonal universitaire, Geneva, Switzerland; Division of Hematology, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA; Instituto di Ematologia, Ospedale Policlinicl Sant'Orsola-Malpighi, Bologna, Italy; Divisione di Ematologia, Azienda Ospedaliera Niguarda Ca'Granda, Milan, Italy; University of Chicago Medical Center, IL; Ida and Cecil Green Cancer Center, Scripps Clinic, La Jolla, CA; III. Medizinische Klinik und Poliklinik der TU, Haematologie/Onkologie, Munich, Germany; Division of Hematology, Universitätsklinik, Kantonspital, Basel, Switzerland; Dipartimento di Biotechologie Cedulari ed Ematologia, Azienda Policlinico Umberto 1, Universita La Sapienza, Rome, Italy; Novartis Pharmaceuticals, Basel, Switzerland; School of Medicine, University of California, Los Angeles, CA; and Division of Hematology, Oregon Health Sciences University, Portland, OR.


    Abstract
Top
Abstract
Introduction
Patients and methods
Results
Discussion
References

Blast crisis is the most advanced stage of chronic myelogenous leukemia (CML) and is highly refractory to therapy. CML is caused by expression of the chimeric BCR-ABL tyrosine kinase oncogene, the product of the t(9;22) Philadelphia translocation. Imatinib (Glivec, formerly STI571) is a rationally developed, orally administered inhibitor of the Bcr-Abl tyrosine kinase. A total of 260 patients with CML were enrolled in a phase II trial, of whom 229 had a confirmed diagnosis of CML in blast crisis. Patients were treated with imatinib in daily oral doses of 400 mg or 600 mg. Imatinib induced hematologic responses in 52% of patients and sustained hematologic responses lasting at least 4 weeks in 31% of patients, including complete hematologic responses in 8%. For patients with a sustained response, the estimated median response duration was 10 months. Imatinib induced major cytogenetic responses in 16% of patients, with 7% of the responses being complete. Median survival time was 6.9 months. Nonhematologic adverse reactions were frequent but generally mild or moderate. Episodes of severe cytopenia were also frequent and were attributable to the underlying condition and treatment with imatinib. Drug-related adverse events led to discontinuation of therapy in 5% of patients, most often because of cytopenia, skin disorders, or gastrointestinal reactions. These results demonstrate that imatinib has substantial activity and a favorable safety profile when used as a single agent in patients with CML in blast crisis. Additional clinical studies are warranted to explore the efficacy and feasibility of imatinib used in combination with other antileukemic drugs. (Blood. 2002;99:3530-3539)

© 2002 by The American Society of Hematology.

    Introduction
Top
Abstract
Introduction
Patients and methods
Results
Discussion
References

Blast crisis is the terminal phase of chronic myelogenous leukemia (CML), a clonal neoplastic disorder of hematopoietic stem cells.1,2 Blast crisis is usually defined as the presence of 30% or more blasts in peripheral blood or bone marrow.3-5 Clinically, blast crisis is characterized by such signs and symptoms as fever, sweats, pain, weight loss, cytopenia, hepatosplenomegaly, enlarged lymph nodes, and extramedullary disease (chloromas). Blast crisis is also marked by karyotypic evolution, or the accumulation of multiple characteristic genetic abnormalities.1,2

In nearly all patients, blast crisis is preceded by an initial period of chronic-phase CML, typically 3 to 7 years in duration, in which malignant progenitor cells proliferate rapidly but retain much of their ability to differentiate.1,2 The appearance of numerous blasts during CML progression is due to the gradual loss of the differentiation potential of malignant cells coincident with their karyotypic evolution. The transition between the chronic and blastic phases of CML is frequently gradual and apparent as an accelerated-disease phase that precedes blast crisis by 2 to 15 months.6-8 Blast crisis is usually fatal within 3 to 6 months of onset in patients with the myeloid phenotype.9,10

The causative event in the initiation of CML is a genetic translocation resulting in the fusion of genetic sequences to form the BCR-ABL oncogene, which codes for a constitutively active Bcr-Abl tyrosine kinase that mediates cellular transformation.1,11 In more than 90% of patients, the BCR-ABL fusion gene is associated with a t(9;22)(q34;q11) reciprocal translocation (Philadelphia [Ph] translocation), which is the most characteristic feature of CML.12 Expression of the BCR-ABL gene is sufficient to cause chronic-phase CML, whereas progression of disease to blast crisis is thought to depend on the development of additional genetic changes leading to loss of differentiation and an increasingly aggressive clinical presentation.1,13-16

There is no single standard therapy for patients with CML at this advanced stage. Treatment usually comprises combination chemotherapy regimens developed for acute leukemias, with the most common therapy using an anthracycline with cytarabine. There is no consensus on how a hematologic response should be defined in these patients. Whereas the criteria for a complete hematologic response (CHR) are similar among studies, the criteria for incomplete response vary greatly. With the specific nature of the blast crisis, which arises as a terminal event of a years-long myeloproliferative disorder, taken into account, these incomplete responses have been described as either "partial response," "hematologic improvement," "minor or minimal response," or "return to chronic phase." Against this background of limitations regarding criteria, reported hematologic response rates in patients with myeloid blast crisis range from 9% to 65%, but complete responses occur in only 10% to 20% of patients, and median survival time is 3 to 6 months.9,10,17-24 Allogeneic stem cell transplantation induces durable remission in fewer than 10% of patients. However, pretransplantation therapy leading to a return from blast crisis to chronic phase is associated with a greatly improved transplantation outcome.25-29

Imatinib (imatinib mesylate; formerly STI571; Glivec in Europe; Gleevec in the United States; Novartis Pharmaceuticals, Basel, Switzerland) is a rationally designed, potent competitive inhibitor of the Bcr-Abl protein tyrosine kinase. In preclinical studies, imatinib showed specific antileukemic activity both in vitro and in vivo against BCR-ABL-positive cells, including eradication of leukemias induced by injection of cell lines derived from patients with blast-crisis CML.30-34 In an ascending-dose clinical phase I study, imatinib induced substantial and durable responses, with minimal toxicity, when used in daily doses of 300 mg or higher in nearly all patients with chronic-phase CML.35 Imatinib used in daily doses of 300 to 1000 mg also induced hematologic responses, including 4 CHRs (11% of patients), in 21 of 38 patients (55%) with CML in myeloid blast crisis.36 No dose-limiting toxicity was observed in these studies. These phase I results indicated that selective inhibition of Bcr-Abl tyrosine kinase can arrest the progression of CML, even in patients with blast crisis, with minimal toxicity. Accordingly, we conducted a phase II trial to confirm the activity and safety of imatinib in a larger population of patients with blast crisis and to characterize prognostic factors associated with a favorable outcome.


    Patients and methods
Top
Abstract
Introduction
Patients and methods
Results
Discussion
References

Patients

Male or female patients were eligible for inclusion in this study if they were at least 18 years of age and had Ph chromosome-positive (Ph-positive) CML in myeloid blast crisis. The study was designed mainly to evaluate treatment in patients with newly diagnosed blast crisis, defined as patients who had not received specific therapy for advanced CML (either in blast crisis or in accelerated phase) except for interferon alpha  (IFN-alpha ) and palliative therapy with hydroxyurea or low-dose cytosine arabinoside (ara-C; < 30 mg/m2 of body-surface area every 12 to 24 hours administered daily). However, to allow a preliminary investigation of imatinib in a heavily pretreated population, enrollment was also open to patients who had previously received therapy for advanced CML.

CML in blast crisis was defined as at least 30% blasts in peripheral blood or marrow or the presence of extramedullary disease (other than liver or spleen enlargement). Presence of the myeloid phenotype was to be confirmed by flow cytometry and required myeloperoxidase positivity, presence of standard myeloid markers, and not more than one lymphoid marker. This definition of CML blast crisis is more strict than the recently proposed World Health Organization criterion of at least 20% blasts in peripheral blood or marrow.37

Patients were required to be free of marked liver or kidney disease as indicated by levels of serum transaminases (aspartate aminotransferase [AST] and alanine aminotransferase [ALT]) not higher than 3 times the upper-normal limit if liver involvement with leukemia was not suspected or not higher than 5 times the upper-normal limit if liver involvement was suspected, serum total bilirubin levels not higher than 3 times the upper-normal limit, and serum creatinine levels not higher than twice the upper-normal limit. Women of childbearing potential were required to have a negative pregnancy test before starting treatment, and both male and female patients were required to use barrier contraceptive measures throughout therapy with imatinib. Patients were excluded from the trial if they had an Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group performance status of 3 or higher, grade 3 or 4 cardiac disease, or any serious concomitant medical condition. Patients were to have ceased any prior treatment for CML within a minimum period established according to the nature of the treatment. For hydroxyurea treatment, this period was 24 hours; for IFN-alpha , 48 hours; for ara-C, 7 days if low dose (< 30 mg/m2 every 12 to 24 hours administered daily), 14 days if medium dose (100-200 mg/m2 for 5 to 7 days), and 28 days if high dose (1-3 g/m2 every 12 to 24 hours administered for 6 to 12 doses); for homoharringtonine, 14 days; for anthracyclines, mitoxantrone, or etoposide, 21 days; for any other investigational agent, 28 days; and for busulfan or any hematopoietic stem cell transplantation, 6 weeks. Patients were also excluded from enrollment if they had a history of noncompliance with therapy or if they were considered by the investigator to be potentially unreliable with respect to compliance.

All patients gave written informed consent to participate in the study before entry, and the study was reviewed and approved by a recognized ethics review committee at each trial center. The study was performed in accordance with the Declaration of Helsinki (as amended in Tokyo, Venice, and Hong Kong).

Study design and treatment

This study was an open-label, nonrandomized, multicenter, phase II trial designed to evaluate the clinical efficacy of imatinib, as determined by the rate of hematologic response lasting at least 4 weeks, and the safety of treatment.

Initially, enrolled patients received treatment with orally administered imatinib in daily doses of 400 mg. When phase I dose-escalation data demonstrating the safety of prolonged treatment with higher doses became available, the initial daily dose was increased by protocol amendment to 600 mg. For patients who relapsed, dose escalation (initially to 600 mg daily and increased by protocol amendment to 400 mg twice daily) was permitted at the discretion of the investigator. Dose escalation was also permitted for patients who did not achieve a hematologic response after at least 1 month of therapy, on a case-by-case basis following discussion between the investigator and sponsor. Patients received treatment for 24 weeks, with subsequent indefinite prolongation in cases in which the investigator judged that further treatment was of clinical benefit.

Treatment was interrupted or reduced in response to nonhematologic, hepatic, or hematologic toxicity, graded according to National Cancer Institute (NCI)-National Institutes of Health common toxicity criteria (CTC). For patients requiring dose reduction, daily doses were reduced from 800 mg (400 mg twice daily) to 600 mg, from 600 to 400 mg, or from 400 to 300 mg. Further dose reductions were permitted by the protocol, but in practice, therapy was interrupted rather than reduced to doses below 300 mg daily. If CTC grade 2 nonhematologic toxicity occurred, therapy was interrupted until recovery to grade 1 or lower and then resumed at the original dose. If grade 2 toxicity recurred following treatment resumption, treatment was again interrupted until recovery and then resumed at a reduced dose. If grade 3 or 4 nonhematologic toxicity occurred, therapy was interrupted until recovery to grade 1 or lower and then resumed at a reduced dose.

Specific dose-reduction rules for hepatic toxicity were applied to patients who enrolled with elevated baseline transaminase levels (3 fold to 5 fold above upper-normal limits). If such patients had increases of more than 3 fold in one or more transaminase levels, therapy was interrupted until levels returned to baseline and then resumed at a reduced dose. For such patients who had clinically relevant but less than 3-fold increases in transaminase levels, treatment was interrupted until recovery and then resumed at the same dose. If patients had a subsequent clinically relevant increase in transaminase levels, treatment was interrupted until recovery and then resumed at a reduced dose.

Dose reductions for hematologic toxicity were considered only for patients with grade 4 neutropenia (neutrophil counts < 0.5 × 109/L) lasting at least 2 weeks and were based on marrow hypocellularity and disease status as determined by bone marrow biopsies done after a minimum of 28 days of therapy. Biopsy specimens were to be obtained at 2-week intervals until recovery from grade 4 neutropenia, but in practice, they were obtained less frequently. For patients with persistent marrow cellularity values below 10% and blast values below 10%, the daily dose was reduced successively at 2-week intervals or therapy was interrupted until recovery of neutropenia to grade 2 or higher (neutrophil counts > 1.0 × 109/L). On recovery, treatment was resumed at the full initial dose. Treatment was not interrupted or reduced for patients with marrow cellularity or blast values above 10%.

Concomitant administration of anticancer drugs or use of procedures was not permitted, except for hydroxyurea, anagrelide, or leukopheresis within the first 28 days of treatment if required to control elevated blast levels or platelet counts. Within the first 28 days of treatment, hydroxyurea could be given at a maximum dose of 5 g daily for up to a total of 7 days. For leukopheresis, a maximum of 2 procedures per week or 4 procedures during the first 28 days was allowed. Treatment with allopurinol (300 mg daily) was suggested until stabilization of white blood cell (WBC) counts. Investigators could prescribe colony-stimulating factors for neutropenic fever.

Evaluation of patients

Patients were evaluated for hematologic and cytogenetic responses and relapse at specified intervals. Peripheral blood samples were obtained and analyzed at baseline, 3 times weekly for the first 4 weeks, weekly between weeks 5 and 13, every 2 weeks after week 13, and on the last day of treatment. Bone marrow aspirations, and in some institutions, bone marrow biopsies were also to be performed at screening; at weeks 5, 9, and 13; and every 3 months thereafter. Bone marrow biopsies or aspirations were also to be done as indicated and to evaluate hematologic toxicity. Extramedullary leukemic involvement was assessed primarily by physical examination at screening, every 4 weeks during therapy, and on the last day of treatment. Patients discontinuing treatment were followed up for survival monthly for the first 3 months after treatment and every 3 months thereafter. Treatment toxicity was evaluated by patient interview at each office visit. Toxicity was graded according to the NCI CTC scale.

The primary efficacy end point in this study was sustained hematologic response lasting at least 4 weeks, assessed by the investigator as (1) CHR, (2) marrow response, or (3) return to chronic phase (RTC). CHR was defined according to conventional criteria as a blast value below 5% in bone marrow, with no circulating peripheral blood blasts; a neutrophil count of at least 1.5 × 109/L and a platelet count of at least 100 × 109/L; and no evidence of extramedullary involvement. In patients not achieving a CHR, marrow response was defined as a blast value below 5% in bone marrow, with no circulating peripheral blood blasts; a neutrophil count of at least 1.0 × 109/L and a platelet count of at least 20 × 109/L (without platelet transfusion and without evidence of bleeding); and no evidence of extramedullary involvement. By exclusion of patients with features of accelerated-phase CML as defined in a parallel phase II study,38 an RTC was defined as below 15% blasts in peripheral blood and bone marrow, with below 30% blasts plus promyelocytes in the peripheral blood and bone marrow; below 20% basophils in peripheral blood; and no extramedullary disease except liver or spleen enlargement. In other studies of CML blast crisis, these incomplete responses were termed partial. Sustained responses were required to be observed at 2 consecutive evaluations done at least 4 weeks apart. According to this definition, "sustained" response is identical to "confirmed" response, a nomenclature that is also used in clinical trials of treatment for leukemia and solid tumors.

Secondary efficacy end points were the induction of cytogenetic response, duration of hematologic response, and overall survival (OS). Cytogenetic response was based on the prevalence of Ph-positive metaphases among at least 20 metaphases investigated in each bone marrow sample and was defined as complete (0% Ph-positive cells), partial (1%-35%), minor (36%-65%), minimal (66%-95%), or none (> 95%). Duration of response was calculated from the first reported date of response to the earliest date of reported relapse or death. Duration of response was censored at the last examination date for patients with an ongoing response or patients who discontinued treatment for reasons other than adverse events, progression, or death. A single determination not fulfilling the criteria for RTC was considered a loss of hematologic response. OS was calculated from the time of the start of treatment with imatinib to the date of death. Survival was censored at the time treatment was discontinued to allow bone marrow transplantation or at the last recorded contact or evaluation for patients alive at time of analysis.

Statistical analysis

This study was designed to demonstrate whether the overall hematologic response rate among patients with no prior treatment for advanced CML was at least 15%. A required sample size of 79 evaluable patients was based on the Fleming single-stage procedure and tested the following: H0: P <=  15% and H1: P >=  30%, with alpha = 2.5% (one-sided) and a power of 90%. To allow for premature withdrawals from the study, the planned sample size was 100 patients with CML in blast crisis. The protocol provided for the additional inclusion of 50 patients previously treated for advanced CML (either in blast crisis or accelerated phase); this sample size was based on practical considerations rather than a formal sample-size calculation. Response rates are reported as an intent-to-treat analysis. Patients who withdrew from treatment before a confirmed response was reported were counted as nonresponders. A landmark analysis of survival was performed, including only patients who had an assessment of hematologic response at 2 and 3 months, at which time most of the responders had achieved a sustained response; survival results were then presented according to response status (no response, RTC, CHR, or marrow response) at 2 months. Response duration and survival were computed by using standard Kaplan-Meier methods. Safety results are reported for all enrolled patients who received at least 1 dose of imatinib.

Univariate and multivariate analyses were conducted to test for effects of possible prognostic factors on OS. Prognostic factors and criteria were consistent with those described in earlier clinical studies of other antileukemic agents8-10 to facilitate comparison with the results of those trials. The log rank test was used to identify prognostic factors at a significance level of P less than .2. Factors meeting this criterion were included as terms in a multivariate Cox regression model. Terms with no significant effect at a level of P less than .1 in multivariate analysis were removed, whereas factors remaining in the multivariate model were interpreted as independently predictive of survival outcome.


    Results
Top
Abstract
Introduction
Patients and methods
Results
Discussion
References

Patients and treatment

A total of 260 patients were enrolled at 27 centers in France, Germany, Italy, Switzerland, the United Kingdom, and the United States from August 1999 to June 2000, and efficacy and safety data for analysis were collected through the end of July 2001. Patient enrollment was allowed to exceed the original planned accrual when follow-up data from an earlier phase I study became available and provided increasing evidence of the activity and safety of imatinib in patients with CML blast crisis.36 Patients were given a diagnosis of CML in blast crisis during the screening period for patient selection. A central review of data from screening and baseline tests showed that 229 patients (88%) had an ongoing diagnosis of CML in blast crisis at the time imatinib therapy was started, whereas this stage of disease could not be confirmed at the start of treatment in 31 patients (12%). For these 31 patients, disease status at the start of therapy was consistent with accelerated phase (16 patients) or chronic phase (4 patients) or could not be determined from reported data (11 patients).

Of the 260 patients enrolled, 37 (14%) started therapy with imatinib at a daily dose of 400 mg, which was the highest dose adequately tested for safety at the time of their enrollment. The remaining 223 patients (86%) started treatment at a daily dose of 600 mg because phase I data available after the start of this study demonstrated that treatment with this higher dose was feasible and possibly associated with greater activity.36

Table 1 shows a summary of patient characteristics and disease history at baseline for all 260 enrolled patients and for the 229 patients with a confirmed diagnosis overall and according to prior treatment for advanced CML. Patient demographic and disease characteristics were typical for patients with CML in blast crisis. Clonal evolution with consistent chromosomal aberrations in addition to the Ph translocation in at least 2 metaphases was reported in 111 patients with a confirmed diagnosis of blast crisis. Aneuploidy was found in 70 patients, with 28 patients having trisomy 8; 26 patients, a second Ph chromosome; 16, trisomy 19; 10, trisomy 21; and 3, loss of a sex chromosome. A complex Ph translocation with involvement of chromosomes other than 9 or 22 was discovered in 15 cases. In 33 cases, aberrations involving chromosome 17, including iso,17 occurred. Additional translocations were detected in 43 cases. Thirty-two patients had a complex karyotype with at least 3 additional chromosomal aberrations.

                              
View this table:
[in this window]
[in a new window]
 
Table 1. Patient and disease characteristics at baseline

At the time of data analysis, the median duration of treatment for all enrolled patients in the 400-mg-dose group was 3.7 months (25%-75% quartiles, 1.5-7.6 months), whereas that in the 600-mg-dose group was 4.0 months (25%-75% quartiles, 1.9-9.3 months); 21% of the patients were treated for more than a year. The median actual dose intensities were 400 mg and 600 mg daily, as planned. In about 50% of the patients in each dose group, treatment was reduced or interrupted at least once, but 58% of the patients in the 400-mg-dose group and 40% of the patients who started with the 600-mg dose had their dose escalated to 600 mg and 800 mg, respectively, at least once during the study. Of the 260 patients enrolled, 220 (85%) have withdrawn from treatment. Primary reasons for withdrawal were disease progression or unsatisfactory therapeutic effect (151 patients [58%]), adverse events or laboratory test results (23 [9%]), death during therapy (24 [9%]), bone marrow transplantation (14 [5%]), protocol violation (3 [1%]), and withdrawal of consent (5 [2%]).

Efficacy

Efficacy analyses included the 229 patients with a confirmed diagnosis of myeloid blast crisis. Among these 229 patients, blast crisis was newly diagnosed in 148 patients (65%), whereas 81 patients (35%) had received previous therapy for advanced CML (other than IFN-alpha , hydroxyurea, or palliative ara-C). Data shown in Figure 1 indicate that treatment with imatinib led to a rapid decrease in leukocyte counts (panel A) and blast levels in peripheral blood (panel B) and that this pharmacodynamic effect was maintained with prolonged treatment in patients remaining in the study. After 1 month, more than 80% of patients with available values had a peripheral blood blast level below 15%.


View larger version (20K):
[in this window]
[in a new window]
 
Figure 1. Leukocyte counts (109/L) and peripheral blood blast levels (%) during the first 8 weeks of treatment with imatinib in patients with a confirmed diagnosis and available values for WBC (blasts). Values were 213 (199) on day 7, 207 (194) on day 14, 196 (181) on day 28, 173 (156) on day 42, and 160 (147) on day 56. Values are median values, with vertical lines extending to 25th and 75th percentiles.

Table 2 shows a summary of hematologic response rates for all 229 patients with a confirmed diagnosis and for patients according to their prior treatment. Values represent the best response observed at any time during therapy. Of the 229 patients, 119 (52%) had reductions in blast values in peripheral blood and bone marrow features corresponding to a hematologic response on at least one occasion. Thirty-five patients (15%) had a CHR, 55 (24%) had a CHR or marrow response, and 64 (28%) met the criteria for an RTC. Sustained hematologic responses lasting at least 4 weeks were reported for 31% of patients, including 8% of patients with a CHR or 12% with either a CHR or a marrow response and 18% with an RTC. Responses usually occurred soon after the start of treatment: of the 70 patients with a sustained hematologic response, 45 (64%) achieved their first response within 1 month after starting imatinib therapy, corresponding to the first scheduled evaluation of response, and an additional 15 (21%) had a response within 2 months. In 3 patients, a hematologic response was achieved only after dose escalation (from 400 to 600 mg in 1 patient and from 600 to 800 mg in 2). In a multivariate analysis, 4 factors were independently predictive of a higher likelihood of sustained hematologic response: initial dose of imatinib (34% with a dose of 600 mg and 9% with 400 mg), hemoglobin value of at least 100 g/L, platelet count of at least 100 × 109/L, and blood blast level below 50%.

                              
View this table:
[in this window]
[in a new window]
 
Table 2. Hematologic response according to duration and previous treatment

Major cytogenetic responses were reported for 37 patients (16%) and 7% of those responses were complete (Table 3). A major, minor, or minimal cytogenetic response was reported in 71 patients (31%). The median time to major cytogenetic response was approximately 3 months, corresponding to the first assessment of response in most patients. The initial dose of imatinib had a strong effect on response: major cytogenetic responses were reported in 18% of patients treated with 600 mg daily and in 6% given 400 mg daily.

                              
View this table:
[in this window]
[in a new window]
 
Table 3. Cytogenetic response according to previous treatment

Figure 2 shows the duration of hematologic response for patients with a confirmed diagnosis of blast crisis. Only patients with responses lasting at least 4 weeks were included in this analysis. The estimated median duration of response was 10 months (95% confidence interval [CI], 7.2-12.6 months), with comparable response durations in previously treated and untreated patients. The duration of hematologic response exceeded 6 months in 68% of the 70 patients with a response (95% CI, 57%-79%).


View larger version (17K):
[in this window]
[in a new window]
 
Figure 2. Duration of hematologic response (sustained responses). The duration of response is censored for 27 of the 70 patients who had a sustained hematologic response; 3 of them discontinued imatinib therapy to undergo stem cell transplantation, 1 withdrew consent to participate after about 1 year, and the remaining 23 patients are still in response between 7 and 16 months after response was first recorded. The estimated percentage of patients without disease progression at 6 months is 68% (95% CI, 57%-79%). The estimated median duration of response is 10 months (95% CI, 7.2-12.6 months).

Figure 3 shows OS for all 229 patients with a confirmed diagnosis. The Kaplan-Meier estimated median survival time was 6.9 months (95% CI, 5.7-8.7 months), and the estimated survival rates were 43% at 9 months (95% CI, 36%-49%), 32% at 12 months (95% CI, 25%-38%), and 20% at 18 months (95% CI, 15% to 27%). These estimates remained the same when survival data for the 10 patients who discontinued therapy to undergo bone marrow transplantation were included (4 of these 10 patients were alive at the time of analysis). The estimated median survival time for previously untreated patients was 7.5 months, whereas that for patients who had previously received treatment for advanced CML was 5.6 months.


View larger version (17K):
[in this window]
[in a new window]
 
Figure 3. OS in all 229 patients with a confirmed diagnosis. Survival was censored for 65 of the 229 patients with a confirmed diagnosis; 10 stopped treatment to undergo stem cell transplantation; 21 patients are still alive after they stopped treatment, and 34 are still receiving treatment at between 12.6 and 23.2 months. The estimated percentage of patients alive at 12 months is 32% (95% CI, 25%-38%). The median survival time is 6.9 months (95% CI, 5.7-8.7 months).

Univariate (log rank) analyses and Cox proportional hazards regression analyses were used to test for the effects of several baseline variables on survival. Table 4 shows the prognostic variables included in these analyses, the cut-off values used to define patient subgroups, and the results. Because data for 2 variables (blasts in bone marrow and other cytogenetic abnormalities) were unavailable in a substantial number of patients, separate analyses were performed for these variables. The main analysis excluded these factors but included all patients with a confirmed diagnosis to obtain a final predictive model. To this model, each of the other 2 factors was individually added to explore their additional predictive benefit. There were 200 patients with an assessment of blasts in bone marrow and 178 in the analysis of other chromosomal abnormalities.

                              
View this table:
[in this window]
[in a new window]
 
Table 4. Prognostic factors tested for association with survival

Results of log rank analyses (Table 4) indicated that 5 baseline variables were predictive of longer survival (P < .05). These were a hemoglobin value of at least 100 g/L, a platelet count of at least 100 × 109/L, a blast level below 50% in either peripheral blood or bone marrow, and absence of chromosomal abnormalities suggesting clonal evolution. Additional factors with P less than .2 results in the log rank analysis were included in the initial proportional hazards analysis. In the final regression model, the only 2 factors independently predictive of longer survival were a platelet count of at least 100 × 109/L and a peripheral blood blast level below 50% (Table 4). In exploratory analyses, the use of a different cut-off value for hemoglobin (< 110 g/L) led to inclusion of a high hemoglobin value in the final multivariate model as an additional factor predictive of favorable survival. Previous treatment for advanced CML (blast crisis or accelerated phase) was retained in all models because it was a study-design feature, but it was not significantly predictive of survival. When the indicator of level of blasts in bone marrow was added to this model, it was not an independently significant factor, presumably because of the high correlation with blasts in peripheral blood. Similarly, other cytogenetic abnormalities did not add to the predictive value of the final regression model obtained for all patients. Whereas the median survival time was only 4 months in the 51 patients with all 3 unfavorable prognostic factors (hemoglobin < 100 g/L, platelets < 100 × 109/L, and >=  50% peripheral blasts at baseline), it was not reached (estimated 12-month survival rate, 77%) in the 32 patients with none of these criteria at baseline. The remaining 140 patients (with only 1 or 2 of these unfavorable prognostic values) had a median survival time of 7.2 months.

As expected, patients who had a sustained hematologic response benefited most from imatinib therapy (Figure 4). Notably, patients with an unsustained response had a survival time similar to that of patients who did not have any response. Patients who showed a hematologic response during the second month of treatment (either a CHR, marrow response, or an RTC) had a markedly improved overall survival compared with patients with available assessments at 2 months indicating no hematologic response (Figure 5). Similar results were observed in a separate analysis considering a landmark at 3 months (data not shown). The achievement of a major cytogenetic response was also associated with an improved survival. The median survival time was 12 months among the 37 patients who achieved a major cytogenetic response and only 6 months in patients without a response.


View larger version (22K):
[in this window]
[in a new window]
 
Figure 4. Median survival time according to response. Median survival time was 19 months (95% CI, 16.8 months-not reached) for the 70 patients with a sustained response, 6 months (95% CI, 4.3-7.3 months) for the 49 patients with an unsustained response, and only 3 months (95% CI, 2.7-4.7 months) in the 110 patients with no documentation of response during treatment with imatinib.



View larger version (19K):
[in this window]
[in a new window]
 
Figure 5. Survival results for 103 patients who had an available assessment of hematologic response (including bone marrow response) at 2 months. Of the 16 patients with a CHR or marrow response, 11 (69%) are still alive, compared with 16 (40%) of the 40 patients with an RTC (median survival, 11.7 months) and only 5 (11%) of the 47 patients with no documented response at 2 months (median survival, 6.1 months; P < .001 on log rank test).

Efficacy results for all 260 enrolled patients were similar to those for the 229 patients with a confirmed diagnosis of blast crisis. For the 260 enrolled patients, the overall rate of hematologic response lasting at least 4 weeks was 31%, including a CHR or marrow response in 12% of patients. The rate of major cytogenetic response was 15%, with 7% complete cytogenetic responses. The estimated duration of hematologic response was also 10 months. The estimated median overall survival time was 6.9 months, and the estimated survival rate at 12 months was 32%.

Safety

Analyses of safety were based on data from all 260 enrolled patients. The safety profile of imatinib in this trial was generally similar to that observed in a previous phase I study with comparable doses. Table 5 shows treatment-related adverse events (adverse reactions) reported in at least 5% of patients. The most frequently reported adverse reactions were gastrointestinal disorders (nausea and vomiting), edema, muscle cramps, diarrhea, and dermatologic events. Grade 1 or 2 edema was more frequent in the 600-mg-dose group (61% compared with 24% in the 400-mg-dose group), but the incidences of other grade 1 or 2 reactions and of all grade 3 or 4 reactions were comparable in the 2 dose groups.

                              
View this table:
[in this window]
[in a new window]
 
Table 5. Nonhematologic adverse events related to treatment with imatinib in all patients (n = 260)

Table 6 shows a summary of the incidence of grade 3 or 4 hematologic toxicity. Values for each variable represent the numbers of patients who had normal or not worse than grade 2 findings before therapy and in whom grade 3 or 4 abnormalities developed during treatment with imatinib. Incidences were comparable for patients treated with 400 mg and 600 mg of imatinib, and the most common grade 4 abnormalities were neutropenia and thrombocytopenia. Table 6 also shows a summary of the time to nadir values of neutrophil and platelet counts (for all patients) and the duration of grade 3 or 4 abnormalities (based on all episodes).

                              
View this table:
[in this window]
[in a new window]
 
Table 6. Hematologic abnormalities during treatment with imatinib

In one patient, a grade 4 abnormality in ALT developed during treatment. Routine laboratory tests revealed newly occurring grade 3 abnormalities in AST in 2% of patients, ALT in another 2%, and bilirubin in 4% of patients during treatment.

Adverse events led to a temporary or permanent reduction in the initial dose of imatinib on one or more occasions in 17 patients (46%) who started treatment with imatinib given at 400 mg daily and 105 patients (47%) who started treatment with 600 mg daily. Drug-related adverse events led to termination of imatinib therapy in 13 patients (5%)---all in the 600-mg-dose group---and consisted of neutropenia or pancytopenia (4 patients), dermatitis or rash (3 patients), gastrointestinal disorders (hematemesis, melena, or vomiting; 2 patients), cardiac failure (2 patients), headache, edema, abnormal hepatic function, hemothorax, and acute renal failure (1 patient each). Some patients discontinued treatment because of multiple adverse events.

Serious adverse events related to treatment were reported for 47 patients (18%) and were most frequently hematologic events, including neutropenia, thrombocytopenia, and febrile neutropenia or neutropenic sepsis (16 patients); gastrointestinal events, including nausea, vomiting, gastric or esophageal irritation, and hemorrhage (15 patients); general disorders, including fever, fatigue or hemorrhage, bone pain, and dehydration (11 patients); cardiac disorders (3 patients, including one with concomitant renal failure); skin disorders, including dermatitis or rash (6 patients); and fluid retention (7 cases of ascites, pleural effusion, or edema). Some patients had more than one serious adverse event. One death, which was caused by renal and cardiac failure due to pleural effusion and ascites, was suspected to be related to therapy.


    Discussion
Top
Abstract
Introduction
Patients and methods
Results
Discussion
References

We conducted this phase II study to determine whether imatinib, a potent inhibitor of the oncogenic Bcr-Abl tyrosine kinase, could induce sustained hematologic responses lasting at least 4 weeks in at least 15% of patients with CML in previously untreated myeloid blast crisis, when administered at well-tolerated doses defined in an earlier phase I study.35,36 We found that orally administered imatinib induced a sustained hematologic response in 36% of previously untreated patients, including a CHR in 9% of patients. Remarkably, treatment with imatinib also induced major cytogenetic responses in 16% of patients, including a complete cytogenetic response in 7%. Rates of sustained hematologic response and major cytogenetic response were markedly higher in patients treated with an initial imatinib dose of 600 mg daily than in those given 400 mg daily. The results of this study are consistent with those of an earlier phase I trial in which 38 patients with CML in myeloid blast crisis were treated with imatinib in daily doses of 300 to 1000 mg.36 The demographic features, disease history, baseline characteristics, and major prognostic factors of the patients enrolled in this trial appear to be consistent with those described in other studies of patients with blast crisis.9,10,37,39 Therefore, these encouraging results observed with imatinib should not be attributable to a bias induced through selection of patients with an unusually favorable prognosis.

The induction of major cytogenetic responses in 16% of patients treated with imatinib is remarkable, since transient cytogenetic responses are only rarely reported with other treatments.10,18,23 Whether these results translate into a clear survival advantage remains to be proved through further follow-up. However, the estimated median survival time of 7.5 months for previously untreated patients observed in this trial compares favorably with the median overall survival time of 3 to 5 months observed with other therapies in patients with newly diagnosed myeloid blast crisis.9,10 Several patients who achieved a sustained hematologic response are still alive after up to 23 months (Figure 5), but longer-term follow-up is required to determine whether treatment with imatinib leads to long-term disease stabilization and survival in a fraction of patients.

Imatinib therapy was associated with numerous adverse events, but this was expected because advanced CML is associated with considerable morbidity. Most of the nonhematologic adverse events that appeared to be drug related (edema, gastrointestinal disorders, and muscle and joint pain) were seldom severe and rarely required discontinuation of treatment. A fluid-retention syndrome involving disorders of pleural effusion, pulmonary edema, acute respiratory distress syndrome, ascites, congestive heart failure, or edema was identified as a possible adverse drug reaction. Although uncommon, this syndrome is potentially serious, as was shown by its implication in the death of one patient, and it should be considered when a patient presents with a sudden weight gain or respiratory distress.

Episodes of severe cytopenias were frequent. Most cases of cytopenia are probably due to the direct pharmacologic effect of imatinib on leukemic cells and the lack of bone marrow reserve in severely ill patients. Accordingly, cytopenia may in many cases reflect treatment efficacy, especially during the first weeks of therapy, and does not necessarily require withdrawal of therapy or dose reduction. Continuation of therapy despite cytopenia may be desirable in some patients and may be associated with less risk in view of the nonspecific cytotoxic effects of alternative therapies, which entail severe myelosuppression leading to febrile neutropenia in more than 80% of patients.9 In this study, imatinib therapy was withdrawn because of cytopenia in only 9 patients, and the primary reason for discontinuation in 8 of these cases was disease progression.

An analysis of prognostic factors revealed that platelet counts of at least 100 × 109/L and peripheral blood blast values below 50% at baseline were independently predictive of favorable survival outcome in this trial. These prognostic factors are similar to those identified in a retrospective study of 121 patients with blast crisis who were treated with either decitabine or combination chemotherapy.10 Furthermore, the achievement of any hematologic response sustained for 4 weeks, including a reduction in blast levels to below 15% (termed RTC in this analysis), was significantly associated with improved survival.

Mechanisms of resistance to imatinib remain to be fully elucidated but do not appear to involve drug absorption or metabolism.36 Instead, plausible resistance mechanisms are postulated to involve drug efflux, amplification of the BCR-ABL fusion gene or increased expression of Bcr-Abl protein, or decreased cellular bioavailability of imatinib.40-43 Amplification and mutations of the BCR-ABL gene have been observed in samples from patients.44-47 Further studies are warranted to clarify the clinical relevance of the different specific molecular mechanisms of resistance to imatinib.

In conclusion, imatinib provides hematologic control in blast-crisis CML with an acceptable level of toxicity. In addition, imatinib specifically suppresses leukemia precursor cells, thereby inducing cytogenetic responses even at this late stage of CML. The results of this trial suggest that imatinib is a valuable treatment alternative in patients with this disorder.

Because imatinib is well tolerated and less myelosuppressive than current conventional chemotherapy agents, it may be feasible to combine imatinib with existing agents used to treat CML in blast crisis or to use it as an adjunct to bone marrow transplantation. Patients with blast crisis often respond well to fludarabine, high-dose cytarabine, or decitabine. In vitro studies have revealed significant cytotoxic synergic or additive effects between imatinib and commonly used antileukemic agents in cells positive for BCR-ABL expression.48,49 Accordingly, further studies are warranted to test the optimal doses of imatinib used in combination with chemotherapeutic and other antileukemic agents.


    Acknowledgments

We thank the numerous coinvestigators, nursing staff, and clinical trial monitors who participated in this study; the data managers and programmers at Novartis Pharmaceuticals for their contributions; David Parkinson and Greg Burke for invaluable support; Nick Shand, John Ford, and Elisabeth Wehrle for collaboration in implementing the protocol and reporting the study results; and Thomas Brown for assistance in preparing the manuscript.


    Footnotes

Submitted September 26, 2001; accepted January 10, 2002.

Sponsored by Novartis Pharmaceuticals AG, Basel, Switzerland.

The publication costs of this article were defrayed in part by page charge payment. Therefore, and solely to indicate this fact, this article is hereby marked "advertisement" in accordance with 18 U.S.C. section 1734.

Presented in part at the 43rd Annual Meeting of The American Society of Hematology, Orlando, FL, December 11, 2001.

Reprints: Charles L. Sawyers, 11-934 Factor Building, UCLA, 10833 Le Conte Ave, Los Angeles, CA 90095; e-mail: csawyers{at}mednet.ucla.edu.


    References
Top
Abstract
Introduction
Patients and methods
Results
Discussion
References

1. Sawyers CL. Chronic myeloid leukemia. New Engl J Med. 1999;340:1330-1340[Free Full Text].

2. Faderl S, Talpaz M, Estrov Z, et al. Chronic myelogenous leukemia: biology and therapy. Ann Intern Med. 1999;131:207-219[Abstract/Free Full Text].

3. Karanas A, Silver RT. Characteristics of the terminal phase of chronic granulocytic leukemia. Blood. 1968;32:445-459[Abstract/Free Full Text].

4. Arlin ZA, Silver RT, Bennet JM. Blastic phase of chronic myeloid leukemia (blVML): a proposal for standardization of diagnostic and response criteria. Leukemia. 1990;4:756-757.

5. Enright H, McGlave P. Chronic myelogenous leukemia. In: Hoffman R,Benz EJ,Shattil SJ, eds. Hematology: Basic Principles and Practice. 3rd ed. New York, NY: Churchill Livingstone; 2000:1155-1171.

6. Kantarjian HM, Dixon D, Keating M, et al. Characteristics of accelerated disease in chronic myelogenous leukemia. Cancer. 1988;61:1441-1446[CrossRef][Medline] [Order article via Infotrieve].

7. Speck B, Bortin MM, Champlin R, et al. Allogeneic bone marrow transplantation for chronic myelogenous leukemia. Lancet. 1984;1:665-668[Medline] [Order article via Infotrieve].

8. Sokal JE, Baccarani M, Russo D, Tura S. Staging and prognosis in chronic myelogenous leukemia. Semin Hematol. 1988;25:49-61[Medline] [Order article via Infotrieve].

9. Derderian PM, Kantarjian H, Talpaz M, et al. Chronic myelogenous leukemia in the lymphoid blastic phase: characteristics, treatment response, and prognosis. Am J Med. 1993;94:69-74[CrossRef][Medline] [Order article via Infotrieve].

10. Sacchi S, Kantarjian HM, O'Brien S, et al. Chronic myelogenous leukemia in nonlymphoid blastic phase. Analysis of the results of first salvage therapy with three different treatment approaches for 162 patients. Cancer. 1999;86:2632-2641[CrossRef][Medline] [Order article via Infotrieve].

11. Rowley D. A new consistent chromosomal abnormality in chronic myelogenous leukemia identified by quinacrine fluorescence and Giemsa staining. Nature. 1973;43:290-293.

12. Nowell PC, Hungerford DA. A minute chromosome in human chronic granulocytic leukemia. Science. 1960;132:1497-1501.

13. Heisterkamp N, Jenster G, ten Hoeve J, et al. Acute leukemia in bcr/abl transgenic mice. Nature. 1990;344:251-253[CrossRef][Medline] [Order article via Infotrieve].

14. Daley GQ, Van Etten RA, Baltimore D. Induction of chronic myelogenous leukemia in mice by the P210bcr/abl gene of the Philadelphia chromosome. Science. 1990;247:824-830[Abstract/Free Full Text].

15. Kelliher MA, McLaughlin J, Witte ON, et al. Induction of a chronic myelogenous leukemia-like syndrome in mice with v-abl and BCR/ABL. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 1990;87:6649-6653[Abstract/Free Full Text].

16. Elefanty AG, Hariharan IK, Cory S. Bcr/abl, the hallmark of chronic myelogenous leukemia in man, induces multiple hematopoietic neoplasms in mice. EMBO J. 1990;9:1069-1078[Medline] [Order article via Infotrieve].

17. Iacoboni SJ, Plunkett W, Kantarjian HM, et al. High dose cytosine arabinoside: treatment and cellular pharmacology of chronic myelogenous leukemia blast crisis. J Clin Oncol. 1986;4:1079-1088[Abstract/Free Full Text].

18. Kantarjian H, Talpaz M, Kontayiannis D, et al. Treatment of chronic myelogenous leukemia in accelerated and blastic phase with daunorubicin, high-dose cytarabine, and granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor. J Clin Oncol. 1992;10:398-405[Abstract/Free Full Text].

19. Kantarjian HM, O'Brien SM, Keating M, et al. Results of decitabine therapy in the accelerated and blastic phases of chronic myelogenous leukemia. Leukemia. 1997;11:1617-1620[CrossRef][Medline] [Order article via Infotrieve].

20. Dutcher JP, Eudey L, Wiernik PH, et al. Phase II study of mitoxantrone and 5-azacitidine for accelerated and blast crisis of chronic myelogenous leukemia: a study of the Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group. Leukemia. 1992;6:770-775[Medline] [Order article via Infotrieve].

21. Dutcher JP, Coletti D, Paietta E, Wiernik PH. A pilot study of alpha -interferon and plicamycin for accelerated phase of chronic myeloid leukemia. Leuk Res. 1997;21:375-380[CrossRef][Medline] [Order article via Infotrieve].

22. Dann EJ, Anastasi J, Larson RA. High-dose cladribine therapy for chronic myelogenous leukemia in the accelerated or blast phase. J Clin Oncol. 1998;16:1498-1504[Abstract/Free Full Text].

23. Montefusco E, Petti MC, Alimena G, et al. Etoposide, intermediate-dose cytarabine, and carboplatin (VAC): a combination therapy for the blastic phase of chronic myelogenous leukemia. Ann Oncol. 1997;8:175-179[Abstract/Free Full Text].

24. Schiffer CA, DeBellis R, Kasdorf H, Wiernik PH. Treatment of the blast crisis of chronic myelogenous leukemia with 5-azaticidine and VP-16-213. Cancer Treat Rep. 1982;66:267-271[Medline] [Order article via Infotrieve].

25. Spencer A, O'Brien S, Goldman J. Options for therapy in chronic myeloid leukaemia. Br J Haematol. 1995;91:2-7[Medline] [Order article via Infotrieve].

26. Gratwohl A, Hermans J, Niederwieser D, et al. Bone marrow transplantation for chronic myeloid leukemia: long term results. Chronic Myeloid Leukemia Working Party of the European Group for Bone Marrow Transplantation. Bone Marrow Transplant. 1993;12:509-516[Medline] [Order article via Infotrieve].

27. McGlave P. Therapy of chronic myelogenous leukemia with related or unrelated donor bone marrow transplantation. Leukemia. 1992;6(suppl):115-117.

28. Horowitz MM, Rowlings PA, Passweg JR. Allogeneic bone marrow transplantation for CML: a report from the International Marrow Transplant Registry. Bone Marrow Transplant. 1996;17(suppl 3):S5-S6.

29. Brodsky I, Biggs JC, Szer J, et al. Treatment of chronic myelogenous leukemia with allogeneic bone marrow transplantation after preparation with busulfan and cyclophosphamide (BuCy2): an update. Semin Oncol. 1993;20(suppl 4):27-31[Medline] [Order article via Infotrieve].

30. Druker BJ, Tamura S. Buchdunger E, et al. Effects of a selective inhibitor of the ABL tyrosine kinase on the growth of BCR-ABL positive cells. Nature Med. 1996;2:561-566[CrossRef][Medline] [Order article via Infotrieve].

31. Deininger MW, Goldman JM, Lydon N, et al. The tyrosine kinase inhibitor CGP57148B selectively inhibits the growth of BCR-ABL-positive cells. Blood. 1997;90:3691-3698[Abstract/Free Full Text].

32. Gambacorti-Passerini C, le Coutre P, Mologni L, et al. Inhibition of the ABL kinase activity blocks the proliferation of BCR/ABL+ leukemia cells and induces apoptosis. Blood Cells Mol Dis. 1997;23:380-394[CrossRef][Medline] [Order article via Infotrieve].

33. Druker BJ, Lydon NB. Lessons learned from the development of an abl tyrosine kinase inhibitor for chronic myelogenous leukemia. J Clin Invest. 2000;105:3-7[Medline] [Order article via Infotrieve].

34. le Coutre P, Marchesi E, Cleris L, et al. Continuous inhibition of the ABL kinase eradicates human BCR/ABL+ leukemic cells injected in nude mice and cures tumor-bearing animals. J Natl Cancer Inst. 1999;91:163-168[Abstract/Free Full Text].

35. Druker BJ, Talpaz M, Resta DJ, et al. Efficacy and safety of a specific inhibitor of the BCR-ABL tyrosine kinase in chronic myeloid leukemia. New Engl J Med. 2001;344:1031-1037[Abstract/Free Full Text].

36. Druker BJ, Sawyers CL, Kantarjian H, et al. Activity of a specific inhibitor of the BCR-ABL tyrosine kinase in the blast crisis of chronic myeloid leukemia and acute lymphoblastic leukemia with the Philadelphia chromosome. New Engl J Med. 2001;344:1038-1042[Abstract/Free Full Text].

37. Harris NL, Jaffe ES, Diebold J, et al. World Health Organization classification of neoplastic diseases of the hematopoietic and lymphoid tissues: report of the Clinical Advisory Committee meeting---Airlie House, Virginia, November 1997. J Clin Oncol. 1999;17:3835-3849[Abstract/Free Full Text].

38. Talpaz M, Silver RT, Druker BJ, et al. Glivec (imatinib mesylate) induces durable hematologic and cytogenetic responses in patients with accelerated phase chronic myeloid leukemia: results of a phase II study. Blood. 2002;99:1928-1937[Abstract/Free Full Text].

39. Coleman MC, Silver RT, Pajak TF, et al. Combination chemotherapy for terminal-phase chronic granulocytic leukemia: Cancer and Leukemia Group B studies. Blood. 1980;55:29-36[Abstract/Free Full Text].

40. le Coutre P, Tassi E, Varella-Garcia M, et al. Induction of resistance to the Abelson inhibitor STI571 in human leukemic cells through gene amplification. Blood. 2000;95:1758-1766[Abstract/Free Full Text].

41. Weisberg E, Griffin JD. Mechanism of resistance to the ABL tyrosine kinase inhibitor STI571 in BCR/ABL-transformed hematopoietic cells. Blood. 2000;95:3498-3505[Abstract/Free Full Text].

42. Mahon FX, Deininger MWN, Schultheis B, et al. Selection and characterization of BCR-ABL positive cell lines with differential sensitivity to the tyrosine kinase inhibitor STI571: diverse mechanisms of resistance. Blood. 2000;96:1070-1079[Abstract/Free Full Text].

43. Gambacorti-Passerini C, Barni R, le Coutre P, et al. Role of alpha 1 acid glycoprotein in the in vivo resistance of human BCR-ABL+ leukemic cells to the abl inhibitor STI571. J Natl Cancer Inst. 2000;92:1641-1650[Abstract/Free Full Text].

44. Gorre ME, Mohammed M, Ellwood K, et al. Clinical resistance to STI-571 cancer therapy caused by BCR-ABL gene mutation or amplification. Science. 2001;293:876-880[Abstract/Free Full Text].

45. Barthe C, Cony-Makhoul P, Melo JV, et al. Roots of clinical resistance to STI-571 cancer therapy [letter]. Science. 2001;293:2163a[Free Full Text].

46. Hochhaus A, Kreil S, Corbin A, et al. Roots of clinical resistance to STI-571 cancer therapy [letter]. Science. 2001;293:2163a.

47. Gorre M, Shah N, Ellwood K, et al. Roots of clinical resistance to STI-571 cancer therapy. Science [letter]. 2001;293:2163a.

48. Topaly J, Zeller WJ, Fruehauf S. Synergistic activity between the new ABL-specific tyrosine kinase inhibitor STI571 and chemotherapeutic drugs on BCL-ABL-positive chronic myelogenous leukemia cells. Leukemia. 2001;15:342-347[CrossRef][Medline] [Order article via Infotrieve].

49. Kano Y, Akutsu M, Tsunoda S, et al. In vitro cytotoxic effects of a tyrosine kinase inhibitor STI571 in combination with commonly used antileukemic agents. Blood. 2001;97:1999-2007[Abstract/Free Full Text].

© 2002 by The American Society of Hematology.
 

Add to CiteULike CiteULike   Add to Connotea Connotea   Add to Del.icio.us Del.icio.us   Add to Digg Digg   Add to Reddit Reddit   Add to Technorati Technorati    What's this?


This article has been cited by other articles:


Home page
BloodHome page
S. K. McWeeney, L. C. Pemberton, M. M. Loriaux, K. Vartanian, S. G. Willis, G. Yochum, B. Wilmot, Y. Turpaz, R. Pillai, B. J. Druker, et al.
A gene expression signature of CD34+ cells to predict major cytogenetic response in chronic-phase chronic myeloid leukemia patients treated with imatinib
Blood, January 14, 2010; 115(2): 315 - 325.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]


Home page
Clin. Cancer Res.Home page
P. C.C. Liu, E. Caulder, J. Li, P. Waeltz, A. Margulis, R. Wynn, M. Becker-Pasha, Y. Li, E. Crowgey, G. Hollis, et al.
Combined Inhibition of Janus Kinase 1/2 for the Treatment of JAK2V617F-Driven Neoplasms: Selective Effects on Mutant Cells and Improvements in Measures of Disease Severity
Clin. Cancer Res., November 15, 2009; 15(22): 6891 - 6900.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]


Home page
BloodHome page
V. G. Oehler, K. Y. Yeung, Y. E. Choi, R. E. Bumgarner, A. E. Raftery, and J. P. Radich
The derivation of diagnostic markers of chronic myeloid leukemia progression from microarray data
Blood, October 8, 2009; 114(15): 3292 - 3298.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]


Home page
J. Pharmacol. Exp. Ther.Home page
Y. Chen, S. Agarwal, N. M. Shaik, C. Chen, Z. Yang, and W. F. Elmquist
P-glycoprotein and Breast Cancer Resistance Protein Influence Brain Distribution of Dasatinib
J. Pharmacol. Exp. Ther., September 1, 2009; 330(3): 956 - 963.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]


Home page
Molecular Cancer TherapeuticsHome page
D. H. Mak, W. D. Schober, W. Chen, M. Konopleva, J. Cortes, H. M. Kantarjian, M. Andreeff, and B. Z. Carter
Triptolide induces cell death independent of cellular responses to imatinib in blast crisis chronic myelogenous leukemia cells including quiescent CD34+ primitive progenitor cells
Mol. Cancer Ther., September 1, 2009; 8(9): 2509 - 2516.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]


Home page
Molecular Cancer TherapeuticsHome page
S. Grosso, A. Puissant, M. Dufies, P. Colosetti, A. Jacquel, K. Lebrigand, P. Barbry, M. Deckert, J. P. Cassuto, B. Mari, et al.
Gene expression profiling of imatinib and PD166326-resistant CML cell lines identifies Fyn as a gene associated with resistance to BCR-ABL inhibitors
Mol. Cancer Ther., July 1, 2009; 8(7): 1924 - 1933.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]


Home page
BloodHome page
H. Kantarjian, J. Cortes, D.-W. Kim, P. Dorlhiac-Llacer, R. Pasquini, J. DiPersio, M. C. Muller, J. P. Radich, H. J. Khoury, N. Khoroshko, et al.
Phase 3 study of dasatinib 140 mg once daily versus 70 mg twice daily in patients with chronic myeloid leukemia in accelerated phase resistant or intolerant to imatinib: 15-month median follow-up
Blood, June 18, 2009; 113(25): 6322 - 6329.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]


Home page
BloodHome page
L. Noens, M.-A. van Lierde, R. De Bock, G. Verhoef, P. Zachee, Z. Berneman, P. Martiat, P. Mineur, K. Van Eygen, K. MacDonald, et al.
Prevalence, determinants, and outcomes of nonadherence to imatinib therapy in patients with chronic myeloid leukemia: the ADAGIO study
Blood, May 28, 2009; 113(22): 5401 - 5411.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]


Home page
BloodHome page
M. Baccarani, G. Rosti, F. Castagnetti, I. Haznedaroglu, K. Porkka, E. Abruzzese, G. Alimena, H. Ehrencrona, H. Hjorth-Hansen, V. Kairisto, et al.
Comparison of imatinib 400 mg and 800 mg daily in the front-line treatment of high-risk, Philadelphia-positive chronic myeloid leukemia: a European LeukemiaNet Study
Blood, May 7, 2009; 113(19): 4497 - 4504.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]


Home page
haematolHome page
R. T. Silver, J. Cortes, R. Waltzman, M. Mone, and H. Kantarjian
Sustained durability of responses and improved progression-free and overall survival with imatinib treatment for accelerated phase and blast crisis chronic myeloid leukemia: long-term follow-up of the STI571 0102 and 0109 trials
Haematologica, May 1, 2009; 94(5): 743 - 744.
[Full Text] [PDF]


Home page
BloodHome page
F. Castagnetti, F. Palandri, M. Amabile, N. Testoni, S. Luatti, S. Soverini, I. Iacobucci, M. Breccia, G. Rege Cambrin, F. Stagno, et al.
Results of high-dose imatinib mesylate in intermediate Sokal risk chronic myeloid leukemia patients in early chronic phase: a phase 2 trial of the GIMEMA CML Working Party
Blood, April 9, 2009; 113(15): 3428 - 3434.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]


Home page
J. Pharmacol. Exp. Ther.Home page
F. T. Bane, J. H. Bannon, S. R. Pennington, G. Campaini, D. C. Williams, D. M. Zisterer, and M. M. Mc Gee
The Microtubule-Targeting Agents, PBOX-6 [Pyrrolobenzoxazepine 7-[(dimethylcarbamoyl)oxy]-6-(2-naphthyl)pyrrolo-[2,1-d] (1,5)-benzoxazepine] and Paclitaxel, Induce Nucleocytoplasmic Redistribution of the Peptidyl-Prolyl Isomerases, Cyclophilin A and Pin1, in Malignant Hematopoietic Cells
J. Pharmacol. Exp. Ther., April 1, 2009; 329(1): 38 - 47.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]


Home page
AM J HOSP PALLIAT CAREHome page
R. L. Barros Costa
Review Article: Targeted Therapy: Comprehensive Review
American Journal of Hospice and Palliative Medicine, April 1, 2009; 26(2): 137 - 146.
[Abstract] [PDF]


Home page
Cancer Res.Home page
M. A. Seeliger, P. Ranjitkar, C. Kasap, Y. Shan, D. E. Shaw, N. P. Shah, J. Kuriyan, and D. J. Maly
Equally Potent Inhibition of c-Src and Abl by Compounds that Recognize Inactive Kinase Conformations
Cancer Res., March 15, 2009; 69(6): 2384 - 2392.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]


Home page
J Oncol Pharm PractHome page
S.-F. Wong
Dasatinib dosing strategies in Philadelphia chromosome-positive leukemia
Journal of Oncology Pharmacy Practice, March 1, 2009; 15(1): 17 - 27.
[Abstract] [PDF]


Home page
BloodHome page
A. Quintas-Cardama and J. Cortes
Molecular biology of bcr-abl1-positive chronic myeloid leukemia
Blood, February 19, 2009; 113(8): 1619 - 1630.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]


Home page
haematolHome page
F. Palandri, F. Castagnetti, G. Alimena, N. Testoni, M. Breccia, S. Luatti, G. Rege-Cambrin, F. Stagno, G. Specchia, B. Martino, et al.
The long-term durability of cytogenetic responses in patients with accelerated phase chronic myeloid leukemia treated with imatinib 600 mg: the GIMEMA CML Working Party experience after a 7-year follow-up
Haematologica, February 1, 2009; 94(2): 205 - 212.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]


Home page
Mayo Clin Proc.Home page
E. Jabbour, J. E. Cortes, and H. M. Kantarjian
Suboptimal Response to or Failure of Imatinib Treatment for Chronic Myeloid Leukemia: What Is the Optimal Strategy?
Mayo Clin. Proc., February 1, 2009; 84(2): 161 - 169.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]


Home page
BloodHome page
B. J. Druker
Translation of the Philadelphia chromosome into therapy for CML
Blood, December 15, 2008; 112(13): 4808 - 4817.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]


Home page
haematolHome page
R. Hehlmann and S. Saussele
Treatment of chronic myeloid leukemia in blast crisis
Haematologica, December 1, 2008; 93(12): 1765 - 1769.
[Full Text] [PDF]


Home page
haematolHome page
F. Palandri, F. Castagnetti, N. Testoni, S. Luatti, G. Marzocchi, S. Bassi, M. Breccia, G. Alimena, E. Pungolino, G. Rege-Cambrin, et al.
Chronic myeloid leukemia in blast crisis treated with imatinib 600 mg: outcome of the patients alive after a 6-year follow-up
Haematologica, December 1, 2008; 93(12): 1792 - 1796.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]


Home page
BloodHome page
T. P. Hughes, S. Branford, D. L. White, J. Reynolds, R. Koelmeyer, J. F. Seymour, K. Taylor, C. Arthur, A. Schwarer, J. Morton, et al.
Impact of early dose intensity on cytogenetic and molecular responses in chronic- phase CML patients receiving 600 mg/day of imatinib as initial therapy
Blood, November 15, 2008; 112(10): 3965 - 3973.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]


Home page
Mol. Cell. Biol.Home page
M. Zhang, W. Fu, S. Prabhu, J. C. Moore, J. Ko, J. W. Kim, B. J. Druker, V. Trapp, J. Fruehauf, H. Gram, et al.
Inhibition of Polysome Assembly Enhances Imatinib Activity against Chronic Myelogenous Leukemia and Overcomes Imatinib Resistance
Mol. Cell. Biol., October 15, 2008; 28(20): 6496 - 6509.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]


Home page
Cancer Res.Home page
L. A. Loeb and C. C. Harris
Advances in Chemical Carcinogenesis: A Historical Review and Prospective
Cancer Res., September 1, 2008; 68(17): 6863 - 6872.
[Full Text] [PDF]


Home page
JNCI J Natl Cancer InstHome page
J. Wu, F. Meng, L.-Y. Kong, Z. Peng, Y. Ying, W. G. Bornmann, B. G. Darnay, B. Lamothe, H. Sun, M. Talpaz, et al.
Association Between Imatinib-Resistant BCR-ABL Mutation-Negative Leukemia and Persistent Activation of LYN Kinase
J Natl Cancer Inst, July 2, 2008; 100(13): 926 - 939.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]


Home page
Ann OncolHome page
R. Capdeville, T. Krahnke, A. Hatfield, J. M. Ford, I. Van Hoomissen, and I. Gathmann
Report of an international expanded access program of imatinib in adults with Philadelphia chromosome positive leukemias
Ann. Onc., July 1, 2008; 19(7): 1320 - 1326.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]


Home page
Clin. Cancer Res.Home page
M. W. Deininger
Nilotinib
Clin. Cancer Res., July 1, 2008; 14(13): 4027 - 4031.
[Full Text] [PDF]


Home page
JCOHome page
F. Michor
Mathematical Models of Cancer Stem Cells
J. Clin. Oncol., June 10, 2008; 26(17): 2854 - 2861.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]


Home page
FASEB J.Home page
A. Puissant, S. Grosso, A. Jacquel, N. Belhacene, P. Colosetti, J.-P. Cassuto, and P. Auberger
Imatinib mesylate-resistant human chronic myelogenous leukemia cell lines exhibit high sensitivity to the phytoalexin resveratrol
FASEB J, June 1, 2008; 22(6): 1894 - 1904.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]


Home page
haematolHome page
F. Palandri, I. Iacobucci, F. Castagnetti, N. Testoni, A. Poerio, M. Amabile, M. Breccia, T. Intermesoli, F. Iuliano, G. Rege-Cambrin, et al.
Front-line treatment of Philadelphia positive chronic myeloid leukemia with imatinib and interferon-{alpha}: 5-year outcome
Haematologica, May 1, 2008; 93(5): 770 - 774.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]


Home page
BloodHome page
A. Gontarewicz, S. Balabanov, G. Keller, R. Colombo, A. Graziano, E. Pesenti, D. Benten, C. Bokemeyer, W. Fiedler, J. Moll, et al.
Simultaneous targeting of Aurora kinases and Bcr-Abl kinase by the small molecule inhibitor PHA-739358 is effective against imatinib-resistant BCR-ABL mutations including T315I
Blood, April 15, 2008; 111(8): 4355 - 4364.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]


Home page
Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USAHome page
T. O'Hare, C. A. Eide, J. W. Tyner, A. S. Corbin, M. J. Wong, S. Buchanan, K. Holme, K. A. Jessen, C. Tang, H. A. Lewis, et al.
SGX393 inhibits the CML mutant Bcr-AblT315I and preempts in vitro resistance when combined with nilotinib or dasatinib
PNAS, April 8, 2008; 105(14): 5507 - 5512.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]


Home page
Journal of Pharmacy PracticeHome page
L. K. Kenealy, C. B. Christenson, and C. B. Williams
Current Therapies for Chronic Myeloid Leukemia
Journal of Pharmacy Practice, April 1, 2008; 21(2): 116 - 125.
[Abstract] [PDF]


Home page
The OncologistHome page
P. Ramirez and J. F. DiPersio
Therapy Options in Imatinib Failures
Oncologist, April 1, 2008; 13(4): 424 - 434.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]


Home page
BloodHome page
J. Wu, F. Meng, H. Lu, L. Kong, W. Bornmann, Z. Peng, M. Talpaz, and N. J. Donato
Lyn regulates BCR-ABL and Gab2 tyrosine phosphorylation and c-Cbl protein stability in imatinib-resistant chronic myelogenous leukemia cells
Blood, April 1, 2008; 111(7): 3821 - 3829.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]


Home page
BloodHome page
A. Hochhaus, B. Druker, C. Sawyers, F. Guilhot, C. A. Schiffer, J. Cortes, D. W. Niederwieser, C. Gambacorti-Passerini, R. M. Stone, J. Goldman, et al.
Favorable long-term follow-up results over 6 years for response, survival, and safety with imatinib mesylate therapy in chronic-phase chronic myeloid leukemia after failure of interferon-{alpha} treatment
Blood, February 1, 2008; 111(3): 1039 - 1043.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]


Home page
JCOHome page
F. Palandri, I. Iacobucci, G. Martinelli, M. Amabile, A. Poerio, N. Testoni, S. Soverini, F. Castagnetti, A. De Vivo, M. Breccia, et al.
Long-Term Outcome of Complete Cytogenetic Responders After Imatinib 400 mg in Late Chronic Phase, Philadelphia-Positive Chronic Myeloid Leukemia: The GIMEMA Working Party on CML
J. Clin. Oncol., January 1, 2008; 26(1): 106 - 111.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]


Home page
Am J Health Syst PharmHome page
C. Fausel
Targeted chronic myeloid leukemia therapy: Seeking a cure
Am. J. Health Syst. Pharm., December 15, 2007; 64(24_Supplement_15): S9 - S15.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]


Home page
Ann OncolHome page
H. Agis, W. R. Sperr, S. Herndlhofer, H. Semper, H. Pirc-Danoewinata, O. A. Haas, C. Mannhalter, H. Esterbauer, K. Geissler, C. Sillaber, et al.
Clinical and prognostic significance of histamine monitoring in patients with CML during treatment with imatinib (STI571)
Ann. Onc., November 1, 2007; 18(11): 1834 - 1841.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]


Home page
BloodHome page
J. M. Goldman
How I treat chronic myeloid leukemia in the imatinib era
Blood, October 15, 2007; 110(8): 2828 - 2837.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]


Home page
JCOHome page
D. White, V. Saunders, A. Grigg, C. Arthur, R. Filshie, M. F. Leahy, K. Lynch, L. B. To, and T. Hughes
Measurement of In Vivo BCR-ABL Kinase Inhibition to Monitor Imatinib-Induced Target Blockade and Predict Response in Chronic Myeloid Leukemia
J. Clin. Oncol., October 1, 2007; 25(28): 4445 - 4451.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]


Home page
Ann OncolHome page
R. Bhargav, M. Mahapatra, P. Mishra, and R. Kumar
Overdose with 6400 mg of imatinib: is it safe?
Ann. Onc., October 1, 2007; 18(10): 1750 - 1751.
[Full Text] [PDF]


Home page
BloodHome page
T. O'Hare, C. A. Eide, and M. W. N. Deininger
Bcr-Abl kinase domain mutations, drug resistance, and the road to a cure for chronic myeloid leukemia
Blood, October 1, 2007; 110(7): 2242 - 2249.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]


Home page
JCOHome page
A. Quintas-Cardama, H. Kantarjian, S. O'Brien, G. Borthakur, J. Bruzzi, R. Munden, and J. Cortes
Pleural Effusion in Patients With Chronic Myelogenous Leukemia Treated With Dasatinib After Imatinib Failure
J. Clin. Oncol., September 1, 2007; 25(25): 3908 - 3914.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]


Home page
BloodHome page
E. Atallah, J.-B. Durand, H. Kantarjian, and J. Cortes
Congestive heart failure is a rare event in patients receiving imatinib therapy
Blood, August 15, 2007; 110(4): 1233 - 1237.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]


Home page
NEJMHome page
C. A. Schiffer
BCR-ABL Tyrosine Kinase Inhibitors for Chronic Myelogenous Leukemia
N. Engl. J. Med., July 19, 2007; 357(3): 258 - 265.
[Full Text] [PDF]


Home page
Cancer Res.Home page
S. Chu, L. Li, H. Singh, and R. Bhatia
BCR-Tyrosine 177 Plays an Essential Role in Ras and Akt Activation and in Human Hematopoietic Progenitor Transformation in Chronic Myelogenous Leukemia
Cancer Res., July 15, 2007; 67(14): 7045 - 7053.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]


Home page
Clin. Cancer Res.Home page
G. Dasmahapatra, N. Yerram, Y. Dai, P. Dent, and S. Grant
Synergistic Interactions between Vorinostat and Sorafenib in Chronic Myelogenous Leukemia Cells Involve Mcl-1 and p21CIP1 Down-Regulation
Clin. Cancer Res., July 15, 2007; 13(14): 4280 - 4290.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]


Home page
Mol. Cell. Biol.Home page
Y.-Y. Kuo and Z.-F. Chang
GATA-1 and Gfi-1B Interplay To Regulate Bcl-xL Transcription
Mol. Cell. Biol., June 15, 2007; 27(12): 4261 - 4272.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]


Home page
BloodHome page
F. Guilhot, J. Apperley, D.-W. Kim, E. O. Bullorsky, M. Baccarani, G. J. Roboz, S. Amadori, C. A. de Souza, J. H. Lipton, A. Hochhaus, et al.
Dasatinib induces significant hematologic and cytogenetic responses in patients with imatinib-resistant or -intolerant chronic myeloid leukemia in accelerated phase
Blood, May 15, 2007; 109(10): 4143 - 4150.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]


Home page
BloodHome page
J. Cortes, P. Rousselot, D.-W. Kim, E. Ritchie, N. Hamerschlak, S. Coutre, A. Hochhaus, F. Guilhot, G. Saglio, J. Apperley, et al.
Dasatinib induces complete hematologic and cytogenetic responses in patients with imatinib-resistant or -intolerant chronic myeloid leukemia in blast crisis
Blood, April 15, 2007; 109(8): 3207 - 3213.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]


Home page
BloodHome page
G. A. Bartholomeusz, M. Talpaz, V. Kapuria, L. Y. Kong, S. Wang, Z. Estrov, W. Priebe, J. Wu, and N. J. Donato
Activation of a novel Bcr/Abl destruction pathway by WP1130 induces apoptosis of chronic myelogenous leukemia cells
Blood, April 15, 2007; 109(8): 3470 - 3478.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]


Home page
BloodHome page
E. Weisberg, L. Catley, R. D. Wright, D. Moreno, L. Banerji, A. Ray, P. W. Manley, J. Mestan, D. Fabbro, J. Jiang, et al.
Beneficial effects of combining nilotinib and imatinib in preclinical models of BCR-ABL+ leukemias
Blood, March 1, 2007; 109(5): 2112 - 2120.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]


Home page
Clin. Cancer Res.Home page
H. M. Kantarjian, F. Giles, A. Quintas-Cardama, and J. Cortes
Important Therapeutic Targets in Chronic Myelogenous Leukemia
Clin. Cancer Res., February 15, 2007; 13(4): 1089 - 1097.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]


Home page
BloodHome page
S. Balabanov, A. Gontarewicz, P. Ziegler, U. Hartmann, W. Kammer, M. Copland, U. Brassat, M. Priemer, I. Hauber, T. Wilhelm, et al.
Hypusination of eukaryotic initiation factor 5A (eIF5A): a novel therapeutic target in BCR-ABL-positive leukemias identified by a proteomics approach
Blood, February 15, 2007; 109(4): 1701 - 1711.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]


Home page
BloodHome page
V. G. Oehler, T. Gooley, D. S. Snyder, L. Johnston, A. Lin, C. C. Cummings, S. Chu, R. Bhatia, S. J. Forman, R. S. Negrin, et al.
The effects of imatinib mesylate treatment before allogeneic transplantation for chronic myeloid leukemia
Blood, February 15, 2007; 109(4): 1782 - 1789.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]


Home page
Cancer Res.Home page
M. Holtz, S. J. Forman, and R. Bhatia
Growth Factor Stimulation Reduces Residual Quiescent Chronic Myelogenous Leukemia Progenitors Remaining after Imatinib Treatment
Cancer Res., February 1, 2007; 67(3): 1113 - 1120.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]


Home page
ASH-SAPHome page
D. P. Steensma and R. E. Richard
Myeloproliferative disorders
ASH Self-Assessment Program, January 1, 2007; 2007(1): 172 - 227.
[Full Text] [PDF]


Home page
ANN INTERN MEDHome page
H. M. Kantarjian, M. Talpaz, F. Giles, S. O'Brien, and J. Cortes
New Insights into the Pathophysiology of Chronic Myeloid Leukemia and Imatinib Resistance
Ann Intern Med, December 19, 2006; 145(12): 913 - 923.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]


Home page
Clin. Cancer Res.Home page
S. Soverini, S. Colarossi, A. Gnani, G. Rosti, F. Castagnetti, A. Poerio, I. Iacobucci, M. Amabile, E. Abruzzese, E. Orlandi, et al.
Contribution of ABL Kinase Domain Mutations to Imatinib Resistance in Different Subsets of Philadelphia-Positive Patients: By the GIMEMA Working Party on Chronic Myeloid Leukemia
Clin. Cancer Res., December 15, 2006; 12(24): 7374 - 7379.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]


Home page
NEJMHome page
B. J. Druker, F. Guilhot, S. G. O'Brien, I. Gathmann, H. Kantarjian, N. Gattermann, M. W.N. Deininger, R. T. Silver, J. M. Goldman, R. M. Stone, et al.
Five-Year Follow-up of Patients Receiving Imatinib for Chronic Myeloid Leukemia
N. Engl. J. Med., December 7, 2006; 355(23): 2408 - 2417.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]


Home page
Clin. Cancer Res.Home page
F. R. Luo, Z. Yang, A. Camuso, R. Smykla, K. McGlinchey, K. Fager, C. Flefleh, S. Castaneda, I. Inigo, D. Kan, et al.
Dasatinib (BMS-354825) Pharmacokinetics and Pharmacodynamic Biomarkers in Animal Models Predict Optimal Clinical Exposure
Clin. Cancer Res., December 1, 2006; 12(23): 7180 - 7186.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]


Home page
Cancer Res.Home page
M. Puttini, A. M. L. Coluccia, F. Boschelli, L. Cleris, E. Marchesi, A. Donella-Deana, S. Ahmed, S. Redaelli, R. Piazza, V. Magistroni, et al.
In vitro and In vivo Activity of SKI-606, a Novel Src-Abl Inhibitor, against Imatinib-Resistant Bcr-Abl+ Neoplastic Cells
Cancer Res., December 1, 2006; 66(23): 11314 - 11322.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]


Home page
BloodHome page
D. J. DeAngelo, R. M. Stone, M. L. Heaney, S. D. Nimer, R. L. Paquette, R. B. Klisovic, M. A. Caligiuri, M. R. Cooper, J.-M. Lecerf, M. D. Karol, et al.
Phase 1 clinical results with tandutinib (MLN518), a novel FLT3 antagonist, in patients with acute myelogenous leukemia or high-risk myelodysplastic syndrome: safety, pharmacokinetics, and pharmacodynamics
Blood, December 1, 2006; 108(12): 3674 - 3681.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]


Home page
Clin. Cancer Res.Home page
P. La Rosee, T. Jia, S. Demehri, N. Hartel, P. de Vries, L. Bonham, D. Hollenback, J. W. Singer, J. V. Melo, B. J. Druker, et al.
Antileukemic Activity of Lysophosphatidic Acid Acyltransferase-{beta} Inhibitor CT32228 in Chronic Myelogenous Leukemia Sensitive and Resistant to Imatinib.
Clin. Cancer Res., November 1, 2006; 12(21): 6540 - 6546.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]


Home page
JCOHome page
M. Agulnik, A. M. Oza, G. R. Pond, and L. L. Siu
Impact and Perceptions of Mandatory Tumor Biopsies for Correlative Studies in Clinical Trials of Novel Anticancer Agents
J. Clin. Oncol., October 20, 2006; 24(30): 4801 - 4807.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]


Home page
BloodHome page
H. A. Bradeen, C. A. Eide, T. O'Hare, K. J. Johnson, S. G. Willis, F. Y. Lee, B. J. Druker, and M. W. Deininger
Comparison of imatinib mesylate, dasatinib (BMS-354825), and nilotinib (AMN107) in an N-ethyl-N-nitrosourea (ENU)-based mutagenesis screen: high efficacy of drug combinations
Blood, October 1, 2006; 108(7): 2332 - 2338.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]


Home page
BloodHome page
M. Baccarani, G. Saglio, J. Goldman, A. Hochhaus, B. Simonsson, F. Appelbaum, J. Apperley, F. Cervantes, J. Cortes, M. Deininger, et al.
Evolving concepts in the management of chronic myeloid leukemia: recommendations from an expert panel on behalf of the European LeukemiaNet
Blood, September 15, 2006; 108(6): 1809 - 1820.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]


Home page
Hum Mol GenetHome page
F.-C. Yang, S. Chen, T. Clegg, X. Li, T. Morgan, S. A. Estwick, J. Yuan, W. Khalaf, S. Burgin, J. Travers, et al.
Nf1+/- mast cells induce neurofibroma like phenotypes through secreted TGF-{beta} signaling
Hum. Mol. Genet., August 15, 2006; 15(16): 2421 - 2437.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]


Home page
BloodHome page
N. von Bubnoff, P. W. Manley, J. Mestan, J. Sanger, C. Peschel, and J. Duyster
Bcr-Abl resistance screening predicts a limited spectrum of point mutations to be associated with clinical resistance to the Abl kinase inhibitor nilotinib (AMN107)
Blood, August 15, 2006; 108(4): 1328 - 1333.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]


Home page
BloodHome page
V. L. Goss, K. A. Lee, A. Moritz, J. Nardone, E. J. Spek, J. MacNeill, J. Rush, M. J. Comb, and R. D. Polakiewicz
A common phosphotyrosine signature for the Bcr-Abl kinase
Blood, June 15, 2006; 107(12): 4888 - 4897.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]


Home page
BloodHome page
D. Ye, N. Wolff, L. Li, S. Zhang, and R. L. Ilaria Jr
STAT5 signaling is required for the efficient induction and maintenance of CML in mice
Blood, June 15, 2006; 107(12): 4917 - 4925.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]


Home page
Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USAHome page
M. Azam, V. Nardi, W. C. Shakespeare, C. A. Metcalf III, R. S. Bohacek, Y. Wang, R. Sundaramoorthi, P. Sliz, D. R. Veach, W. G. Bornmann, et al.
Activity of dual SRC-ABL inhibitors highlights the role of BCR/ABL kinase dynamics in drug resistance
PNAS, June 13, 2006; 103(24): 9244 - 9249.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]


Home page
Clin. Cancer Res.Home page
N. Koyama, S. Koschmieder, S. Tyagi, I. Portero-Robles, J. Chromic, S. Myloch, H. Nurnberger, T. Rossmanith, W.-K. Hofmann, D. Hoelzer, et al.
Inhibition of phosphotyrosine phosphatase 1B causes resistance in BCR-ABL-positive leukemia cells to the ABL kinase inhibitor STI571.
Clin. Cancer Res., April 1, 2006; 12(7 Pt 1): 2025 - 2031.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]


Home page
JCOHome page
P. Ault, H. Kantarjian, S. O'Brien, S. Faderl, M. Beran, M. B. Rios, C. Koller, F. Giles, M. Keating, M. Talpaz, et al.
Pregnancy Among Patients With Chronic Myeloid Leukemia Treated With Imatinib
J. Clin. Oncol., March 1, 2006; 24(7): 1204 - 1208.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]


Home page
Ann OncolHome page
G. Martinelli, I. Iacobucci, G. Rosti, F. Pane, M. Amabile, F. Castagnetti, D. Cilloni, S. Soverini, N. Testoni, G. Specchia, et al.
Prediction of response to imatinib by prospective quantitation of BCR-ABL transcript in late chronic phase chronic myeloid leukemia patients
Ann. Onc., March 1, 2006; 17(3): 495 - 502.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]


Home page
Mayo Clin Proc.Home page
M. J. Mauro and R. T. Maziarz
Stem Cell Transplantation in Patients With Chronic Myelogenous Leukemia: When Should It Be Used?
Mayo Clin. Proc., March 1, 2006; 81(3): 404 - 416.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]


Home page
BloodHome page
A. Aloisi, S. Di Gregorio, F. Stagno, P. Guglielmo, F. Mannino, M. P. Sormani, P. Bruzzi, C. Gambacorti-Passerini, G. Saglio, S. Venuta, et al.
BCR-ABL nuclear entrapment kills human CML cells: ex vivo study on 35 patients with the combination of imatinib mesylate and leptomycin B
Blood, February 15, 2006; 107(4): 1591 - 1598.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]


Home page
BloodHome page
Y. Du, K. Wang, H. Fang, J. Li, D. Xiao, P. Zheng, Y. Chen, H. Fan, X. Pan, C. Zhao, et al.
Coordination of intrinsic, extrinsic, and endoplasmic reticulum-mediated apoptosis by imatinib mesylate combined with arsenic trioxide in chronic myeloid leukemia
Blood, February 15, 2006; 107(4): 1582 - 1590.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]


Home page
JCOHome page
D. A. Reardon, M. J. Egorin, J. A. Quinn, J. N. Rich Sr, I. Gururangan, J. J. Vredenburgh, A. Desjardins, S. Sathornsumetee, J. M. Provenzale, J. E. Herndon II, et al.
Phase II Study of Imatinib Mesylate Plus Hydroxyurea in Adults With Recurrent Glioblastoma Multiforme
J. Clin. Oncol., December 20, 2005; 23(36): 9359 - 9368.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]


Home page
JCOHome page
H. I. Scher and C. L. Sawyers
Biology of Progressive, Castration-Resistant Prostate Cancer: Directed Therapies Targeting the Androgen-Receptor Signaling Axis
J. Clin. Oncol., November 10, 2005; 23(32): 8253 - 8261.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]


Home page
BloodHome page
E. H. Stover, J. Chen, B. H. Lee, J. Cools, E. McDowell, J. Adelsperger, D. Cullen, A. Coburn, S. A. Moore, R. Okabe, et al.
The small molecule tyrosine kinase inhibitor AMN107 inhibits TEL-PDGFR{beta} and FIP1L1-PDGFR{alpha} in vitro and in vivo
Blood, November 1, 2005; 106(9): 3206 - 3213.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]


Home page
JCOHome page
G. Hess, D. Bunjes, W. Siegert, R. Schwerdtfeger, G. Ledderose, B. Wassmann, G. Kobbe, M. Bornhauser, A. Hochhaus, A. J. Ullmann, et al.
Sustained Complete Molecular Remissions After Treatment With Imatinib-Mesylate in Patients With Failure After Allogeneic Stem Cell Transplantation for Chronic Myelogenous Leukemia: Results of a Prospective Phase II Open-Label Multicenter Study
J. Clin. Oncol., October 20, 2005; 23(30): 7583 - 7593.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]


Home page
Cancer Res.Home page
D. J. Barnes, D. Palaiologou, E. Panousopoulou, B. Schultheis, A. S.M. Yong, A. Wong, L. Pattacini, J. M. Goldman, and J. V. Melo
Bcr-Abl Expression Levels Determine the Rate of Development of Resistance to Imatinib Mesylate in Chronic Myeloid Leukemia
Cancer Res., October 1, 2005; 65(19): 8912 - 8919.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]


Home page
Toxicol SciHome page
I. N. Rich and K. M. Hall
Validation and Development of a Predictive Paradigm for Hemotoxicology Using a Multifunctional Bioluminescence Colony-Forming Proliferation Assay
Toxicol. Sci., October 1, 2005; 87(2): 427 - 441.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]


Home page
Ann OncolHome page
G. Dresemann
Imatinib and hydroxyurea in pretreated progressive glioblastoma multiforme: a patient series
Ann. Onc., October 1, 2005; 16(10): 1702 - 1708.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]


Home page
BloodHome page
S. G. Willis, T. Lange, S. Demehri, S. Otto, L. Crossman, D. Niederwieser, E. P. Stoffregen, S. McWeeney, I. Kovacs, B. Park, et al.
High-sensitivity detection of BCR-ABL kinase domain mutations in imatinib-naive patients: correlation with clonal cytogenetic evolution but not response to therapy
Blood, September 15, 2005; 106(6): 2128 - 2137.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]


Home page
Clin. Chem.Home page
N. Sorel, F. Chazelas, A. Brizard, and J.-C. Chomel
Double-Gradient-Denaturing-Gradient Gel Electrophoresis for Mutation Screening of the BCR-ABL Tyrosine Kinase Domain in Chronic Myeloid Leukemia Patients
Clin. Chem., July 1, 2005; 51(7): 1263 - 1266.
[Full Text] [PDF]


Home page
Clin. Cancer Res.Home page
M. Golemovic, S. Verstovsek, F. Giles, J. Cortes, T. Manshouri, P. W. Manley, J. Mestan, M. Dugan, L. Alland, J. D. Griffin, et al.
AMN107, a Novel Aminopyrimidine Inhibitor of Bcr-Abl, Has In vitro Activity against Imatinib-Resistant Chronic Myeloid Leukemia
Clin. Cancer Res., July 1, 2005; 11(13): 4941 - 4947.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]


Home page
JCOHome page
J.-P. J. Issa, V. Gharibyan, J. Cortes, J. Jelinek, G. Morris, S. Verstovsek, M. Talpaz, G. Garcia-Manero, and H. M. Kantarjian
Phase II Study of Low-Dose Decitabine in Patients With Chronic Myelogenous Leukemia Resistant to Imatinib Mesylate
J. Clin. Oncol., June 10, 2005; 23(17): 3948 - 3956.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]


Home page
BloodHome page
N. C. Wolff, D. R. Veach, W. P. Tong, W. G. Bornmann, B. Clarkson, and R. L. Ilaria Jr
PD166326, a novel tyrosine kinase inhibitor, has greater antileukemic activity than imatinib mesylate in a murine model of chronic myeloid leukemia
Blood, May 15, 2005; 105(10): 3995 - 4003.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]


Home page
BloodHome page
P.-H. Tseng, H.-P. Lin, J. Zhu, K.-F. Chen, E. M. Hade, D. C. Young, J. C. Byrd, M. Grever, K. Johnson, B. J. Druker, et al.
Synergistic interactions between imatinib mesylate and the novel phosphoinositide-dependent kinase-1 inhibitor OSU-03012 in overcoming imatinib mesylate resistance
Blood, May 15, 2005; 105(10): 4021 - 4027.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]


Home page
BloodHome page
A. L. Dewar, A. C. Cambareri, A. C. W. Zannettino, B. L. Miller, K. V. Doherty, T. P. Hughes, and A. B. Lyons
Macrophage colony-stimulating factor receptor c-fms is a novel target of imatinib
Blood, April 15, 2005; 105(8): 3127 - 3132.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]


Home page
Cancer Res.Home page
C. Cebo, I. A. Voutsadakis, S. Da Rocha, J.-H. Bourhis, A. Jalil, B. Azzarone, A. G. Turhan, M. Chelbi-Alix, S. Chouaib, and A. Caignard
Altered IFN{gamma} Signaling and Preserved Susceptibility to Activated Natural Killer Cell-Mediated Lysis of BCR/ABL Targets
Cancer Res., April 1, 2005; 65(7): 2914 - 2920.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]


Home page
BloodHome page
M. Deininger, E. Buchdunger, and B. J. Druker
The development of imatinib as a therapeutic agent for chronic myeloid leukemia
Blood, April 1, 2005; 105(7): 2640 - 2653.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]


This Article
Right arrow Abstract Freely available
Right arrow Full Text (PDF)
Right arrow Alert me when this article is cited
Right arrow Alert me if a correction is posted
Right arrow Citation Map
Services
Right arrow Email this article to a friend
Right arrow Similar articles in this journal
Right arrow Similar articles in PubMed
Right arrow Alert me to new issues of the journal
Right arrow Download to citation manager
Right arrow reprints & permissions
Right arrow Rights and Permissions
Citing Articles
Right arrow Citing Articles via HighWire
Right arrow Citing Articles via CrossRef
Right arrow Citing Articles via Google Scholar
Google Scholar
Right arrow Articles by Sawyers, C. L.
Right arrow Articles by Druker, B. J.
Right arrow Search for Related Content
PubMed
Right arrow PubMed Citation
Right arrow Articles by Sawyers, C. L.
Right arrow Articles by Druker, B. J.
Related Collections
Right arrow Neoplasia
Right arrow Clinical Trials and Observations
Social Bookmarking
 Add to CiteULike   Add to Connotea   Add to Del.icio.us   Add to Digg   Add to Reddit   Add to Technorati  
What's this?

 click for free articles
home about blood authors subscriptions permissions advertising public access contact us
  Copyright © 2002 by American Society of Hematology         Online ISSN: 1528-0020