Achievement of complete molecular responses in late chronic phase chronic myeloid leukaemia patients treated with pulsed imatinib while in minimal residual disease

Abstract

Chronic myeloid leukaemia (CML) patients in chronic phase (CP) are currently treated with a standard dose of imatinib of 400 mg/daily. However, once in complete cytogenetic remission (CCR) it is possible that some patients maintain this status with reduced dose of the drug. Here, we describe five cases of CML in late CP, which were switched to imatinib while in CCR after interferon alpha (IFNα) and reached complete and stable molecular remission with intermittent drug administration at 400 mg/every 20 days/month.