The main objective of this study was to investigate whether patients with chronic myeloid leukemia (CML) in treatment with long-term therapy imatinib have a different health-related quality-of-life ...(HRQOL) profile compared with the general population. In total, 448 CML patients were enrolled, and the SF-36 Health Survey was used to compare generic HRQOL profiles. Symptoms were also assessed. HRQOL comparisons were adjusted for key possible confounders. The median age of patients was 57 years and the median time of imatinib treatment was 5 years (range 3-9 years). The largest HRQOL differences were found in younger patients. In particular, patients aged between 18 and 39 years had marked impairments in role limitations because of physical and emotional problems, respectively: −22.6 (P < .001), −22.3 (P < .001). Patients with CML age 60 or older had a HRQOL profile very similar to that reported by the general population. Women had a worse profile than men when each were compared with their peers in the general population. Fatigue was the most frequently reported symptom. The HRQOL of CML patients is comparable with that of population norms in many areas, however, younger and female patients seem to report the major limitations.
We report a study of an alternative treatment schedule of imatinib (IM) in chronic myeloid leukemia (CML). Seventy-six Philadelphia-positive (Ph+), BCR-ABL–positive patients aged 65 years or older ...who had been treated with IM for more than 2 years and who were in stable complete cytogenetic response (CCgR) and major molecular response (MMR) were enrolled in a single-arm study to test the effects of a policy of intermittent IM (INTERIM) therapy for 1 month on and 1 month off. With a minimum follow-up of 4 years, 13 patients (17%) lost CCgR and MMR and 14 (18%) lost MMR only. All these patients resumed continuous IM and all but one (lost to follow-up) regained CCgR and MMR. No patients progressed to accelerated or blastic phase or developed clonal chromosomal abnormalities in Ph+ cells or BCR-ABL mutations. In elderly Ph+ CML patients carefully selected for a stable CCgR (lasting >2 years), the policy of INTERIM treatment affected the markers of residual disease, but not the clinical outcomes (overall and progression-free survival). This trial was registered at www.clinicaltrials.gov as NCT 00858806.
• INTERIM treatment affects cytogenetic and molecular response, but not the outcome.• No patients treated with INTERIM progressed to accelerated or blast phase.
Highlights • In CML patients, social support, psychological and subjective perceptions could influence adherence. • Based on patient's survey, high rate of adherence to TKIs has been reported. • The ...majority of patients would like to discuss more about discomfort, anxiety and fear of the future. • Fifty-five percent of patients did not take the drug for less than 3 days a month. • Forty-nine percent of patients wouldn’t interrupt the therapy due to fear of losing all the results achieved.
Background. The availability of multiple tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs) and precise molecular monitoring has dramatically changed the prognosis in CML patients. With proper medical management, the ...planning of a pregnancy in both male (M) and female (F) patients is now possible. Towards this goal, the GIMEMA CML working party initiated a retrospective and prospective study to describe all male conceptions/female pregnancy outcomes in the CML Italian population from January 2013.
Aims. The specific aims of this study were to analyze conceptions and pregnancies in male and female patients with regard to 3 general issues: 1) Illness issues, including CML treatment prior to conception/during/after pregnancy, transcript kinetics, the recovery of a lost response after therapy cessation, and the effects of treatment modifications (e.g., resistance, switching); 2) Conception/pregnancy issues, including planned, unplanned, spontaneous and medically assisted pregnancies (MAP), spontaneous/elective abortions, pregnancy progression, delivery, and breast feeding; and , 3) Post-natal health issues from birth to walking including speaking and academic performance.
Patients and methods. Patients included in the study had to meet the following criteria A) Age >18 yrs; B) Confirmed CML diagnosis; C) Conception or pregnancy; D) TKI treatment before, during and/or after pregnancy; and E) Signed, IRB-approved written informed consent form. Of the 143 enrollees, data were obtained from 135 patients (83M and 52F). A total number of 166 cases were analyzable. Male conceptions were 106, and female pregnancies 60.
Results 1) At time of conception 34 patients had no treatment (TF), 8 received interferon-a (IFN), and the remaining were treated with a TKI (Table 1). Considering only female patients, all stopped TKI treatment when pregnancy was discovered at 3-6 weeks (w). After placental maturation (>20w) 13 patients were treated with IFN (10), 2 with Imatinib, and 1 with Nilotinib (N). In this latter patient N concentration was tested in maternal plasma and cord blood at delivery and showed no transfer to the baby. Kinetics of rise was calculated in a subgroup of 17 patients. Doubling time DT = duration x log(2) /log (final ratio)-log (initial ratio) exhibits a bimodal trend, very short for some patients (5.8 days mean, range 4.5-8.2) and much longer for others (182 days mean, range 59.2-328.4), This result does not correlate with molecular status pre TF. Furthermore 76.5% of patients will not lose Major Molecular Response during pregnancy, while in TF, that is more than expected when compared to non pregnant controls (TFR). No cases of CML progression or resistance to re-treatment were observed. CML transcript ratios during pregnancy are shown in Fig.1.
2) The majority of pregnancies were planned. MAPs were reported in 5M and 3F. Two spontaneous conceptions occurred in 2M after allogeneic transplant. Eleven abortions before 12 w (2 M ,induced; 9F, 5 induced) were reported (not included in the 166 cases). Pregnancies in all cases progressed normally. In F there were 2 pre-eclampsia, 2 oligohydramnios, 1 abruption placenta. In 8M and 8 F babies were born pre term and 1M and 2F were small at birth with no further consequences. Forty-two F (70%) delivered spontaneously. Babies were born at a mean 40 w (34-44) in M, 39 w (33-42) in F. Breast feeding information was collected for 45F of which18 (29%) breast feed for at least one month (range 1-28 mo).
3) Post-natal information showed normal child development and growth. One respiratory arrest was noted at birth with rapid recovery and 1 macrocephaly was described with no further consequences. Of the 56 children >3 yrs old attending school (44M,12F), 2M presented with language problems and in one case autism was diagnosed. Other reported outcomes include 1 child diagnosed as having rheumatoid arthritis at 2 yr (F), and 1 diagnosed with celiac disease (M).
Conclusions TKI therapy has allowed CML patients to pursue a normal life including planning/managing a family. Males do not need to stop therapy to conceive due to the therapy's non-genotoxic nature, in contrast to females who must cease therapy due to the teratogenic nature of TKIs. Kinetics of regrowth of the CML residual disease during pregnancy in female patients is different than in TFR patients. To our knowledge this is the largest multicentric study regarding CML and reproduction. Results and practical management will be presented.
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Abruzzese:Novartis: Research Funding; Pfizer: Consultancy; Ariad: Consultancy; BMS: Consultancy. Castagnetti:Incyte: Consultancy, Honoraria; Bristol Myers Squibb: Consultancy, Honoraria; Novartis: Consultancy, Honoraria; Pfizer: Consultancy, Honoraria. Gambacorti-Passerini:Pfizer: Consultancy, Honoraria, Research Funding; BMS: Consultancy. Rambaldi:Pfizer: Consultancy; Novartis: Consultancy; Italfarmaco: Consultancy; Omeros: Consultancy; Roche: Consultancy; Celgene: Consultancy; Amgen Inc.: Consultancy. Gaidano:Roche: Consultancy, Honoraria; Morphosys: Honoraria; AbbVie: Consultancy, Honoraria; Gilead: Consultancy, Honoraria; Janssen: Consultancy, Honoraria; Amgen: Consultancy, Honoraria.
Purpose Myelofibrosis (MF) is a chronic myeloproliferative neoplasm characterised by an aggressive clinical course, with disabling symptoms and reduced survival. Patients experience a severely ...impaired quality of life and their families face the upheaval of daily routines and high disease-related financial costs. The aim of this study was to investigate the perceptions of Italian patients and their caregivers about living with MF and the burden of illness associated with MF. Methods A quali-quantitative questionnaire and a prompted written narrative survey were administered to patients affected by primary or post-essential thrombocythemia/post-polycythaemia vera MF and their primary caregiver in 35 Italian haematological centres. Results In total, 287 questionnaires were returned by patients and 98 by caregivers, with 215 and 62, respectively, including the narrative. At the time of diagnosis, the most commonly expressed emotional states of patients were fear, distress and anger, confirming the difficulty of this phase. A high level of emotional distress was also reported by caregivers. Along the pathway of care, the ability to cope with the disease differed according to the quality of care received. The mean cost to each patient attributable to MF was estimated as €12,466 per year, with an estimated average annual cost of loss of income of €7774 per patient and €4692 per caregiver. Conclusions Better understanding of the personal life of MF patients and their families could improve the relationships between health workers and patients, resulting in better focused healthcare pathways and more effective financial support to maintain patients in their social roles.
Relapsed/refractory AML patients have a poor prognosis; allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT) is the only chance in this setting to achieve long-term disease-free survival (1). ...It was previously established the activity of clofarabine plus cytarabine in AML relapse (clofarabine dosed once daily for 5 days with 40 mg/m2 followed 4 hours later by ara-C at 1 g/m2 per day)(2).However, modifications of this combination in AML therapy of relapsed/refractory patients warrant further evaluation. Therefore, our goal was to determine the efficacy and safety of clofarabine at lower dosage followed by cytarabine (Ara-C) in adult patients with relapsed or refractory acute myeloid leukemia (AML) and to evaluate the capacity of this regimen as a bridge for HSCT.
Patients aged 18-65 years with refractory/relapsed AML were treated at the dose of clofarabine 30 mg/mq on days 1-5 and cytarabine 1000 mg/mq gg on days 1-5. We evaluated the complete remission rate (CRR), duration of remission (DOR) and overall survival (OS). Minimal residual disease (MRD) by molecular targeting was considered in all patients.
Twenty-five (25) patients aged 29-64 years (median 47), who were fit for allogenetic HCT, received one cycle of 30 minutes infusion of clofarabine 30 mg/mq, followed 4 hours later by 3 hours infusion of intermediate dose cytarabine 1000 mg/mq days 1-5. Only in the first three patients this schedule was followed by gentuzumab. Nine (36%) patients had refractory disease (seven after one induction regimen, one after two previous regimes, one after a prior hematopoietic stem cell transplant (HSCT); 16 (64%) patients were in their first (12 patients) or second relapse (4 patients); among the 12 patients in first relapse, 5 were from an allogeneic stem cell transplant. Fourteen patients (56%) achieved a complete remission (CR), seven (28%) was refractory and 4 (16%) died of treatment related mortality. Eleven (44%) patients underwent (9 in CR) to allogeneic transplants or DLI infusion (3 patients refractory, and 8 patients relapsed), only one patient underwent to autologous transplant. One patient, who was relapsed after prior HSCT, obtained a CR but he developed acute graft vs host disease after therapy and died in molecular CR*. Among all patients underwent HSCT after Clofa/Ara-c salvage, six patients (50%) are still alive and in complete remission, six patients (50%) died because of HSCT complications or AML relapse. The complete remission rate (CRR) was (56,00 %), the median Overall Survival was 5 months for all patients (range 1-38 M), 11 Months for those underwent to tranplantation and 1,5 Months for non transplanted group. Treatment was complicated by neutropenic fever (n=17), grade III-IV mucositis (n=2) , skin rush (n=4) grade II- III, hepatic transaminase elevations (n=2). Two (n=5) patient died before their disease status could be evaluated.
These preliminary results suggest that combination treatment with clofarabine 30 mg/mq and ARA-C 1000 mg/mq is effective in this particularly poor prognosis category of patients, resulting in an ORR very favorably, representing a potential “bridge” toward bone marrow transplant procedures (among the 14 patients who achieved a CR, twelve (85%) proceeded to HSCT, and six are still alive). The safety profile is acceptable in this relapsed/refractory population, and our results are very similar to previous regimes using higher clofarabine dosages. More studies with this combination in adults are warranted.
1 Estey E. Treatment of relapsed and refractory acute myeloid leukemia. Leukemia. 2000;14:476-479. 2. Faderl S et al, “Results of a pase 1-2 study of clofarabine in combination with cytarabine (ara-C)”Blood 2005
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No relevant conflicts of interest to declare.
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Background. Nilotinib 300 mg BID was approved as frontline treatment in chronic phase chronic myeloid leukemia (CP-CML) patients and allowed to reach deep molecular responses in a shorter median ...time with reduction of progression rate. Nilotinib is associated to a specific safety profile, with metabolic side effect as the most common events and increased probability of cardiovascular disorders.
Aim. Aim of our study is to prospectively assess metabolic changes and cardiovascular safety during treatment with nilotinib, in a single arm multicentric Italian GIMEMA trial (0811), testing the drug as frontline treatment with the primary endpoint to obtain MR4 at 24 months. All metabolic changes were classified according to CTC grade. Lipidic changes were assessed according to American Association of Clinical endocrinologist criteria of 2012 and glucose abnormalities according to American diabetologist association (ADA).
Results. One hundred and thirty patients were enrolled in 33 different centers: median age 50.5 years (range 18-85), 64.6% male. Mean body mass index (BMI) was 25.3, with 40% of patients being overweight/obese according to WHO classification. At last contact, 100 patients were still in treatment, the majority with full dose (86%). According to ADA criteria 47%, 10%, 4.6% and 6% of patients experienced grade 1 (101-125 mg/dl), grade 2 (126-150 mg/dl), grade 3 (151-200 mg/dl) and grade 4 (>200 mg/dl), increased fasting glucose, respectively. As compared to baseline, a significant variation was observed after 1 year (p<0.001). Glycosylated haemoglobin increased in 47% as grade 1 (5.7-6.49%), 10% as grade 2 (6.5-6.99%), 3% as grade 3 (7-7.99) and 4.6% as grade 4 (>8), respectively according to ADA criteria. AACE criteria identified a significant reduction of triglycerides (p<0.001) and a significant increase of cholesterol both in LDL and HDL fractions (p<0.001). Five patients (3.8%) experienced a peripheral arterial disorders (2 patients with claudication, 2 stenosis and 1 patient with arterial optic ischaemic): one patient required temporary reduction and 1 patient permanent discontinuation. Four patients experienced a venous thrombosis. Six patients (4.6%) had an ischemic cardiac disease and 7 patients (5.3%) an arrhythmia: five patients, based on physician judgment discontinued the treatment.
Conclusions. Prospective monitoring of metabolic safety during frontline treatment with nilotinib 300 mg BID showed consistent and specific profile with increased glycaemia and cholesterol level, mostly of grade 1-2. Possible occurrences of cardiovascular side effects impose identification of patients at risk at baseline and a correct monitoring during follow-up.
Castagnetti:Novartis: Consultancy, Honoraria; BMS: Consultancy, Honoraria; Pfizer: Consultancy, Honoraria; ARIAD: Consultancy, Honoraria. Gugliotta:BMS: Honoraria; Novartis: Honoraria. Tiribelli:Novartis Farma: Consultancy, Speakers Bureau; Bristol Myers Squibb: Consultancy, Speakers Bureau; Ariad Pharmaceuticals: Consultancy, Speakers Bureau. Saglio:Pfizer: Consultancy, Honoraria; ARIAD: Consultancy, Honoraria; Bristol-Myers Squibb: Consultancy, Honoraria; Novartis Pharmaceutical Corporation: Consultancy, Honoraria. Baccarani:PFIZER: Honoraria, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Speakers Bureau; NOVARTIS: Honoraria, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Speakers Bureau; Bristol-Myers Squibb: Honoraria, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Speakers Bureau; ARIAD Pharmaceuticals, Inc.: Honoraria, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Speakers Bureau. Rosti:Novartis: Honoraria, Research Funding, Speakers Bureau; Bristol Myers Squibb: Honoraria, Research Funding, Speakers Bureau.
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Background
The approval of second-generation tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs) for the first line treatment of Chronic Myeloid Leukemia (CML) has generated a need for early molecular parameters ...associated with inadequate responses to Imatinib Mesylate (IM).
Objective
We correlated quantitative determination of BCR-ABL transcripts at diagnosis with the outcome (defined according to the 2013 European Leukemia Net recommendations) of 272 newly diagnosed CML patients receiving IM 400 mg/die.
Methods
BCR-ABL transcripts were measured from peripheral blood samples drawn at diagnosis before patients received any pharmacological treatment using Real-Time Quantitative PCR (RQ-PCR). All molecular determinations were performed twice (in triplicates) on the same sample using either ABL or glucuronidase-beta (GUS) as reference genes. BCR-ABL values were then reported on the international scale (IS).
Results
With a median follow-up of 60 months, 65.4% of patients achieved an optimal response, 5.6% presented a response currently defined as "warning", 22.4% failed IM treatment and 6.6% switched to a different tyrosine kinase inhibitor because of intolerance to the drug. We recorded 19 deaths (6.9%), 7 (2.5%) attributable to disease progression. We applied Receiver Operating Characteristic (ROC) curves to define BCR-ABL/GUSIS expression levels that would separate patients likely (i.e. below the threshold) or unlikely (i.e. above the threshold) to achieve multiple endpoints, namely: optimal response (OR), failure-free survival (FFS), event-free survival (EFS), transformation-free survival (TFS) and overall survival (OS). Employing the specific threshold calculated for each endpoint we found that high BCR-ABL/GUSIS levels at diagnosis were associated with inferior probabilities of OR (p<0.001), FFS (p<0.001) and EFS (p<0.001). Elevated BCR-ABL/GUSIS levels were also associated with higher rates of disease transformation to the accelerated phase or blast crisis (p=0.029) but not with OS (p=0.132).
Conclusions
High BCR-ABL transcripts at diagnosis measured by RQ-PCR employing GUS as a reference gene allow the identification of CML patients unlikely to benefit from standard dose IM that should be considered for alternative forms of treatment.
Hochhaus:Novartis: Honoraria, Research Funding; Bristol-Myers Squibb: Honoraria, Research Funding; ARIAD: Honoraria, Research Funding; Pfizer: Honoraria, Research Funding.
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Background: In the ENESTnd trial, nilotinib (NIL) showed a superior efficacy to imatinib (IM) with higher response rates and less frequent progression to advanced phases (ABP). Based on these ...results, NIL has been approved for frontline treatment of chronic myeloid leukemia (CML). The treatment-free remission (TFR) is actually considered one of the most important treatment goals in CML and a sustained deep molecular response (DMR, MR4 or better) is a pre-requisite to achieve TFR. The 5-year update from the ENESTnd trial showed a superiority of NIL over IM in terms of both MR4 and MR4.5, but differences concerning the stability of DMR have not been reported. Moreover, a significant improvement in the long-term outcome has not been demonstrated yet. Despite the efficacy, cost and safety concerns may limit the NIL use as first line treatment in CML. Independent studies are extremely relevant to confirm or to extend the results of company-sponsored trials.
Aims and Methods: To assess the efficacy of NIL frontline in terms of DMR, a phase 3b study was conducted by the GIMEMA CML WP (CML0811; NCT01535391). The primary endpoint was the rate of MR4 at 24 months. Key secondary objectives: evaluation of the kinetics of molecular response, assessment of the safety profile, analysis of the outcome. The starting NIL dose was 300 mg BID, with dose escalation to 400 mg BID in case of suboptimal response or failure according to ELN 2009 criteria, with the exception of progression to ABP and in absence of safety issues or BCR-ABL mutations insensitive to NIL. The molecular response was assessed in GIMEMA standardized molecular laboratories (LabNet network) and the results were expressed according to the International Scale. The MR4 was defined as either detectable disease ≤ 0.01% BCR-ABL or undetectable disease with ≥ 10.000 ABL copies; the MR4.5 was defined as either detectable disease ≤ 0.0032% BCR-ABL or undetectable disease with ≥ 32.000 ABL copies. Sustained MR4 or MR4.5: MR4 or MR4.5 for at least 1 year a, with at least 3 evaluable analysis. Adverse events were recorded continuously. A prospective evaluation of glucose metabolism and serum lipids was planned. All the analysis were performed according to the ITT principle.
Results: 130 CML patients in early chronic phase have been enrolled in 32 italian hematologic centers; median age, 50 years (range 18-85); high risk patients, 22%, 6% and 8% according to Sokal, Euro and EUTOS scores, respectively; clonal chromosomal abnormalities in Ph+ cells at baseline, 5%; e13a2 BCR-ABL transcript, 34%. The median follow-up is actually 21 months (all patients had at least 18 months observation; a minimum observation of 24 months will be reached by October 2014). Data with at least 24 months follow-up will be presented on site. At the last contact, the patients still on treatment with NIL were 110/130, 85% (74% with 600 mg, 7% with 300 mg or less, 4% with 800 mg daily), while 20/130 patients, 15%, permanently interrupted the study drug for the following reasons: 3% progression to ABP, 2% failure or suboptimal response (dose escalation not feasible), 1% allogeneic stem cell transplantation, 5% toxicity, 4% other reasons (including consent withdrawal and pregnancy). The complete cytogenetic response rate and the major molecular response rate at 12 months were 76% and 53%, respectively. The rates of MR4 at 3, 6, 12 and 18 months were 2%, 12%, 27% and 29%, respectively. Fifty-four patients achieved a MR4 at least once; the patients with a sustained MR4 were 18/54 (33%, or 14% of the total). The rates of MR4.5 at 3, 6, 12 and 18 months were 0, 3%, 10% and 13%, respectively. Only 3 patients achieved a sustained MR4.5. A significant increase of glycosylated hemoglobin was not observed. The total cholesterol, and both LDL and HDL cholesterol fractions significantly increased during treatment. Triglyceride concentrations had not significant variations. Six patients (5%) had a cardiovascular event, including myocardial infarction and arterial thrombosis. All the patients are still alive.
Conclusions: The molecular response rates seem to be superior to the historical data of IM. NIL 300 mg BID as frontline treatment of BCR-ABL+ CML, with dose optimization in case of non optimal response, may improve the proportion of patients able to discontinue TKI treatment. Due to the metabolic effects, a baseline selection is crucial to maximize the therapeutic benefit and to minimize the cardiovascular risks.
Castagnetti:Pfizer: Consultancy; Bristol Myers Squibb: Consultancy, Honoraria; Novartis Farma: Consultancy, Honoraria. Gugliotta:Bristol Myers Squibb: Consultancy, Honoraria; Novartis: Consultancy, Honoraria. Rossi:NOVARTIS: Consultancy, Speakers Bureau; BRISTOL MYERS-SQUIBB: Consultancy, Speakers Bureau; ARIAD: Consultancy; ROCHE: Speakers Bureau. Turri:Novartis: Consultancy, Honoraria; Bristol-Meyers Squibb: Consultancy, Honoraria. Tiribelli:Novartis: Consultancy, Honoraria; Bristol-Meyers and Squibb: Consultancy, Honoraria. Soverini:NOVARTIS: Consultancy; BRISTOL MYERS: Consultancy; ARIAD: Consultancy. Cavo:Celgene: Consultancy, Honoraria, Speakers Bureau; Janssen: Consultancy, Honoraria, Speakers Bureau; Millenium Pharm: Consultancy, Honoraria; Bristol-Myers Squibb: Consultancy, Honoraria; Onyx: Honoraria. Martinelli:Pfizer: Speakers Bureau; Bristol Myers Squibb: Speakers Bureau; Novartis: Speakers Bureau. Saglio:BMS: Consultancy, Fees for occasional speeches Other; Novartis: Consultancy, Fees for occasional speeches, Fees for occasional speeches Other; Pfizer: Consultancy, Fees for occasional speeches, Fees for occasional speeches Other; ARIAD: Consultancy, Fees for occasional speeches, Fees for occasional speeches Other. Baccarani:ARIAD: Honoraria; Pfizer: Honoraria; Bristol Myers Squibb: Honoraria, Speakers Bureau; Novartis: Honoraria, Speakers Bureau. Rosti:ROCHE: Speakers Bureau; ARIAD: Consultancy; Bristol Myers Squibb: Consultancy, Speakers Bureau; Novartis: Consultancy, Speakers Bureau.
The approval of three tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs) for the first line treatment of Chronic Myeloid Leukemia (CML) has generated an urgent need for molecular parameters predictive of unfavorable ...therapeutic outcomes. Recent evidence suggests that failure to achieve early molecular responses (i.e. BCR-ABL/ABLIS levels <10% after 3 months or <1% after 6 months of TKI treatment) results in inferior rates of both overall and progression-free survival.
With the current study, we wanted to establish if high BCR-ABL transcripts at diagnosis would be associated with unfavorable responses to Imatinib Mesylate (IM). Thus, we correlated quantitative determinations of BCR-ABL levels at diagnosis with the outcome of 230 newly diagnosed CML patients that were assigned to receive IM 400 mg/die. BCR-ABL transcripts were measured from peripheral blood samples drawn before exposure to any form of treatment. Real-Time Quantitative PCR (RQ-PCR) determinations were subsequently performed in triplicates using glucuronidase-beta (GUS) as the reference gene, since previous evidence has demonstrated that ABL is not a reliable control gene in samples collected at diagnosis. Values were then reported on the International Scale employing a conversion factor obtained from the laboratory of the University of Heidelberg in Mannheim, Germany.
Median follow-up of the study population was 50 months. Estimated 5-year cumulative incidences of complete hematologic response, complete cytogenetic response (CCyR) and major molecular response were 97.9%, 89.5% and 64.7%. Five-year probabilities of overall survival (OS), transformation-free survival (TFS: survival without disease transformation to the accelerated phase or blast crisis) and failure-free survival (FFS: survival without IM failure as defined by the 2009 European Leukemia Net recommendations) were 93.8%, 97.8% and 76%. Elevated BCR-ABL/GUSIS correlated with inferior probabilities of optimal response (p<0.001), and lower rates of CCyR after 12 months of IM (p<0.001). Moreover, high BCR-ABL/GUSIS transcripts were associated with lower probabilities of FFS (p<0.001) and TFS (p=0.01). When we employed the 2009 European Leukemia Net criteria to subdivide our patient cohort in optimal responders, suboptimal responders and individuals failing IM, we found that increasingly elevated BCR-ABL/GUSIS transcripts accurately distinguished the three patient groups (optimal vs suboptimal p<0.001; optimal vs resistant p<0.001; suboptimal vs resistant p<0.001). Furthermore, using receiver operating characteristic curves we found that progressively higher BCR-ABL/GUSIS levels at diagnosis defined quantitative transcript thresholds (15.96% for Optimal Response, 16.01% for EFS, 16.09% for FFS, 20.36% for TFS and 22.04% for OS) that separated low risk from high risk patients. Finally, we wanted to determine the concordance rates between BCR-ABL/GUSIS levels at diagnosis and early molecular responses (eMRs) at 3 and 6 months. We therefore employed the 15.96% BCR-ABL/GUSIS threshold to identify subjects with high (<15.96%) or low (>15.96%) probabilities of obtaining an Optimal Response and found that 69% of patients displaying <15.96% BCR-ABL/GUSIS achieved <10% BCR-ABL/ABLIS levels after 3 months of IM (p<0.001). Likewise, 78% of subjects presenting <15.96% BCR-ABL/GUSIS at diagnosis attained <1% BCR-ABL/ABLIS after 6 months of therapy (p<0.001).
We conclude that high BCR-ABL transcripts at diagnosis measured by RQ-PCR employing GUS as a reference gene allow the identification of CML patients unlikely to benefit from IM that should receive alternative forms of treatment.
Muller:Novartis, BMS, ARIAD: Consultancy; Novartis, BMS: Research Funding; Novartis, BMS, ARIAD: Honoraria.
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