Hematologic, cytogenetic, and molecular responses to imatinib therapy for chronic myeloid leukemia: a single-center experience in Turkey

Aim: To validate patient responses to imatinib mesylate, which induces hematologic and cytogenetic remission and, consequently, modifies the progression of chronic myeloid leukemia (CML). Materials and methods: Between January 2006 and July 2009, 31 patients with chronic-phase CML were treated with imatinib therapy in the hematology unit of Atatürk University Medical Faculty Training Hospital. Imatinib treatment was begun at the standard dose of 400 mg/day, as either first-line or second-line therapy. Results: At the end of the second month of treatment, all of the patients had achieved complete hematologic response. After 12 months, the rate of complete cytogenetic response was 71%, and after 24 months, the rate of complete molecular response was 85%. The most commonly observed adverse event was edema (facial and/or peripheral). No grade 3 or 4 hematological adverse events were observed during the study period. Conclusion: Our CML patients’ responses to imatinib therapy were similar to those seen in other countries, although our group had a lower rate of adverse events.