Clin Lymphoma Myeloma Leuk 2017 Aug 4

Outcomes of Chronic Myeloid Leukemia Patients With Early Molecular Response at 3 and 6 Months: A Comparative Analysis of Generic Imatinib and Glivec.

Eskazan AE1, Sadri S1, Keskin D1, Ayer M2, Kantarcioglu B3, Demirel N3, Aydin D3, Aydinli F4, Yokus O4, Ozunal IE1, Berk S1, Yalniz FF1, Elverdi T1, Salihoglu A1, Ar MC1, Ongoren S5, Baslar Z1, Aydin Y1, Tuzuner N6, Ozbek U7, Soysal T8.
The molecular response at 3 months of the original imatinib (OI) in patients with chronic myeloid leukemia has prognostic significance; however, this has never been tested for generic imatinib (GI).
l="BACKGROUND" NlmCategory="BACKGROUND">The molecular response at 3 months of the original imatinib (OI) in patients with chronic myeloid leukemia has prognostic significance; however, this has never been tested for generic imatinib (GI).

PATIENTS AND METHODS:

We evaluated the BCR-ABL1 [international reporting scale (IS)] transcript levels at 3 and 6 months to determine whether an early molecular response (EMR) had a prognostic effect on the outcome among chronic myeloid leukemia patients receiving GI. Ninety patients were divided into 2 groups, according to the imatinib they received, as OI (group A) and GI (group B).

RESULTS:

Two groups were equally balanced for age, gender, Sokal risk score, and optimal response. The 2 groups did not differ in achieving an EMR at 3 months, and patients with EMR at 3 months had significantly superior complete cytogenetic response and major molecular response rates compared with patients who did not achieve an EMR in both groups. The percentage of an optimal response [BCR-ABL1 (IS), < 1%] and a warning response [BCR-ABL1 (IS), 1%-10%] at 6 months was 93% and 95% for groups A and B, respectively (P = .553). Patients with an optimal response (OR) at both 3 and 6 months had significantly superior event-free survival rates compared with patients without an OR in groups A and B.

CONCLUSION:

The results of the present study have demonstrated most probably for the first time that an OR at 3 and 6 months in patients receiving either first-line GI and OI is clearly associated with greater response and event-free survival rates. Prospective randomized trials with larger numbers of patients and longer follow-up periods are needed to address the effect of EMR in patients receiving GI.