Can imatinib levels predict the outcomes for patients with chronic myeloid leukemia?

This study aimed to investigate if imatinib (Gleevec) levels can predict responses for patients with newly diagnosed chronic myeloid leukemia. This study concluded that imatinib trough levels influenced treatment responses in these patients.

Imatinib is a targeted treatment used to treat chronic myeloid leukemia (CML). It works by blocking the growth of cancer cells. Trough levels are the lowest concentration of drug before the next dose is administered. If the imatinib trough level can predict the outcome for patients with newly diagnosed CML remains under investigation.

This study involved 206 patients with newly diagnosed CML. The imatinib trough levels were measured. Cytogenic responses (CyR; the number of altered chromosomes in the blood and bone marrow decreases) and molecular responses (MR; the number of leukemia cells in the blood decreases) were measured. Drug levels between patients treated with branded and generic imatinib were also compared.

Patients who had a complete CyR had higher trough levels compared to those who did not have a CyR. Patients who had a major MR had higher trough levels compared to those who did not have major MR. Patients with imatinib through levels of 1000 ng/ml or lower had a 92.6% risk of therapy failure. No difference in through levels of imatinib was seen between the branded or generic drug.

This study concluded that imatinib trough levels significantly influence response to treatment in CML.

This study involved more patients who did not respond to treatment. This might have influenced the results.