Front-line treatment of Philadelphia positive chronic myeloid leukemia with imatinib and interferon-α: 5-year outcome

This study confirms the excellent response to imatinib front-line therapy in patients with chronic myeloid leukemia. By contrast, most patients discontinued pegylated interferon-α due to its side effects. In 2004, we reported the short-term results of a multicentric, phase 2 study of imatinib 400 mg daily and pegylated interferon-α in the treatment of 76 early chronic phase Philadelphia-positive chronic myeloid leukemia patients. In this report, we update the results with an observation time of five years. After two years of treatment, all but 10 patients (13%) had discontinued pegylated interferon-α. The complete cytogenetic response rate at five years was 87%, and 94% of complete cytogenetic responders maintained the complete cytogenetic response after five years. All but one complete cytogenetic response also achieved a major molecular response. These data confirm the excellent response to imatinib front-line and the stability of the complete cytogenetic response. Any possible additional benefit of the combination with interferon-α remains uncertain, due to low patient compliance.

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