ALBERT

Description: Abstract 2281 Introduction. Imatinib is the standard of care for CML in early chronic phase. Until now, even in stable complete molecular response, discontinuation of imatinib is not recommended, and imatinib remains a life-saving drug to be taken chronically. Long term side effects, including the incidence of second malignancies, represent a potential relevant issue. Roy et al (Leukemia 2005) reported an unexpected incidence of second neoplasms in patients treated with imatinib after interferon (6/189 patients, 3.2%; urinary tract cancer: 4/6). In contrast, an analysis performed by Novartis Pharma (Pilot et al, Leukemia 2006) on 9518 patients treated with imatinib (including pre-treated patients) did not provided evidence for an increased overall incidence of second malignancies. According to epidemiologic data (Registro Tumori) in Italy, the annual incidence of neoplasms varies from 1%, in the range of age between 50 and 69 years, to 3% for patients over 70 years. AIM. To evaluate the incidence of second malignancies in CML patients treated with imatinib frontline. METHODS. Overall, 559 patients have been enrolled in 3 concurrent clinical studies of the GIMEMA CML Working Party: CML/021, Imatinib 800 mg in intermediate Sokal risk patients (Clin Trials Gov. NCT00514488); CML/022, Imatinib 400 mg vs 800 mg in high Sokal risk patients (Clin Trials Gov. NCT00510926); CML/023, observational, Imatinib 400 mg. We evaluated the incidence of II malignancy notified as severe adverse events reported by the GIMEMA clinical Centers. RESULTS. The median age at the diagnosis of CML was 52 (extr.18 – 84) years; 308 patients (55%) were ≥ 50 years. The median follow-up is currently 60 months. Eighteen patients (3.2%) developed a second malignancy at a median time of 20 months (extremes 2 – 52) from the start of imatinib therapy (Table 1); 4 of these malignancies (2 colon cancer and 2 NHL) were diagnosed within 6 months. All patients were older than 50 years (median 64, extremes 50 – 79) at the diagnosis of the second malignancy. Fifteen out of the 559 (2.7%) patients died due to second neoplasm progression. CONCLUSION. In this multicentre nation-wide experience of CML patients treated with imatinib frontline, the incidence of life-threatening or requiring hospitalization secondary neoplasms (severe adverse events), seems not to be superior to the observed incidence of neoplasm in the Italian national population. In particular, in contrast to what previously reported, no increased incidence of urinary tract cancer was observed. Disclosures: Gugliotta: Novartis: Honoraria. Castagnetti: Novartis: Honoraria; Bristol Myers Squibb: Honoraria. Martinelli: Novartis: Consultancy, Honoraria; BMS: Consultancy, Honoraria; Pfizer: Consultancy. Pane: Novartis: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Research Funding; Bristol Myers Squibb: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees. Saglio: Novartis: Consultancy, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Research Funding, Speakers Bureau; Bristol Myers Squibb: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Speakers Bureau. Baccarani: Novartis: Consultancy, Research Funding, Speakers Bureau; Bristol Myers Squibb: Consultancy, Research Funding; Wyeth: Consultancy, Research Funding. Rosti: Novartis: Consultancy, Honoraria, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Speakers Bureau; Bristol Myers Squibb: Honoraria, Speakers Bureau; Roche: Speakers Bureau.

Description: Abstract 3412 The phase II explorative study of intermittent Imatinib (IM) treatment (InterIM) in elderly patients with Ph + chronic myeloid Leukemia (CML) who achieved a stable complete cytogenetic response (CCgR) after at least 2-years standard IM therapy (any dose between 300 and 800 mg/day) was started in April 2008 and closed for the enrollment in August 2009, since more than 78 patients required by statistics were included into the study. The main objective of the study was to investigate if after 12 months (trial time) the CCgR achieved with standard (daily administration) IM therapy could be maintained with InterIM. For this purpose, the CgR status was assessed by Interphase Fluorescence In Situ Hybridization (I-FISH) on peripheral blood (≥ 200 cells counted) every 3 months. When I-FISH (% Ph + nuclei) increased more then 1%, chromosome banding analysis (CBA) on bone marrow was performed to confirm the loss of CCgR and to check for additional cytogenetic abnormalities (ACA). At the present time, out of the 95 patients who were enrolled, 82 patients were evaluable and out of them 77 (94%), 73 (89%), 71 (87%) and 70 (85%) completed 3, 6, 9 and 12 months of the treatment program, respectively. Therefore, the great majority of patients completed the study core and at the end of 2010 all the patients are expected to complete the trial time (12 mo). During the first 12 months of InterIM, 1% to 11% of the evaluable patients at 3, 6, 9 and 12 months showed an I-FISH 〉1% Ph+ nuclei (Figure 1). Figure 1 Distribution of patients according to I-FISH Figure 1. Distribution of patients according to I-FISH Totally, eleven (13%) out of 82 patients treated with InterIM showed an I-FISH 〉1% and they were checked by CBA on bone marrow (Figure 2). Out of them only 3 cases, that means 4% of the 82 evaluable patients, lost the CCgR and resumed standard IM therapy (daily administration), but none completed 3 months of therapy. All the patients lost the MMR and increased several folds the BCR-ABL transcript levels. Two pts had a low risk Sokal and one a high risk; age was 66, 69, 77 years; time from diagnosis was 29, 91 and 100 months; duration of IM therapy was 29, 83 and 84 months; the IM dose was 400mg in all cases. Figure 2 Cytogenetic and molecular response in 11 cases who showed I-FISH 〉1% + nuclei and who were checked by CBA on bone marrow. Black boxes shows the 3 cases who lost the CCgR Figure 2. Cytogenetic and molecular response in 11 cases who showed I-FISH 〉1% + nuclei and who were checked by CBA on bone marrow. Black boxes shows the 3 cases who lost the CCgR As concern as molecular response, 99% of the patients had a major molecular response (MMR=