[Hematologic and cytogenetic response to treatment in patients with chronic myeloid leukemia]

The Interferon alpha therapy increases the number of cytogenetic responses in patients with chronic myeloic leukaemia. The addition of cytarabine can reduce the number of Ph positive metaphases. The achievement of cytogenetic response is connected with longer survival of patients with chronic myeloic leukaemia. The aim of the study was the evaluation of the achievement of hematologic and cytogenetic response as well as adverse effects of the treatment in chronic myeloic leukaemia patients.

The followed was the group of 87 previously untreated CML Ph positive patients. 34 patients with the median age of 44.6 years were treated with hydroxyurea, 42 patients were treated with single interferon alpha and 11 patients with the median age of 41.3 years with the combined interferon plus cytarabine therapy. The complete hematologic remission occurred in only 17.5% of patients treated with hydroxyurea, but in 35.7% treated with interferon and in 54.5% patients treated with the combined therapy. The cytogenetic response we have not found in any of hydroxyurea treated patients, in the group of interferon alpha in 38%. The highest number of cytogenetic responses was in the group treated with interferon plus cytarabine. As we have expected, the addition of cytarabine increased hematotoxicity and gastrotoxicity.

Based on the published date, that show a better survival of patients with the achieved cytogenetic response as well as the higher number of cytogenetic responses in the group of interferon plus cytarabine therapy from our observation, we believe, that combined therapy should be suitable as a front-line therapy of chronic myeloic leukaemia patients.