Imatinib mesylate (Gleevec) in the treatment of 2 patients with Philadelphia-positive ALL relapsing after allogeneic stem cell transplantation

Sustained Cytogenetic Remission Induced by Imatinib Mesylate in a Chronic Myeloid Leukemia Patient Who Had a Relapse into Lymphoid Crisis after Allogeneic Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation

We report on the response to imatinib mesylate in a chronic myeloid leukemia patient who, after undergoing allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (alloHSCT) for treatment of lymphoid blastic crisis, had a relapse into blastic crisis despite the presence of chronic and grade II acute graft-versus-host disease (GVHD). Complete hematologic response and the disappearance of the Bcr-Abl fusion signal on fluorescence in situ hybridization analysis were achieved after 10 weeks of imatinib therapy and were maintained for 26 months with no adverse effects, including recurrence of GVHD. This case highlights the ability of imatinib to induce sustained hematologic and cytogenetic remission in some patients who have had relapses into advanced-stage chronic myeloid leukemia after alloHSCT.