Abstract
Bcr/abl mRNA levels were monitored in 13 patients with chronic myeloid leukemia receiving imatinib mesylate over a period of 78 weeks. During treatment median bcr/abl mRNA levels progressively declined from 77.2 normalized dose (nD) at baseline to 11.28 nD after 13 weeks (P<0.05) and to 1.28 nD after 78 weeks (P<0.05). After 13 weeks, bcr/abl mRNA levels were significantly lower in cytogenetic responders compared to nonresponders (P<0.05), but subsequent decrease in the transcript levels caused the loss of any correlation to the cytogenetic status. These results suggest that bcr/abl mRNA levels may reflect cytogenetic response only during the early phases of imatinib therapy.
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The authors are grateful to P. Pavia and D. Domenighini for technical assistance.
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Cariani, E., Capucci, M., Micheletti, M. et al. Prolonged treatment with imatinib mesylate in patients with advanced chronic myeloid leukemia causes a reduction of bcr/abl mRNA levels independent of cytogenetic response. Ann Hematol 82, 333–335 (2003). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00277-003-0660-y
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00277-003-0660-y