Stable molecular remission induced by imatinib mesylate (STI571) in a patient with CML lymphoid blast crisis...

We report the response to the ABL kinase inhibitor imatinib mesylate (STI571) in a patient with chronic myeloid leukemia (CML) who relapsed twice after dose-reduced allogeneic stem cell transplantation (alloSCT) for B lymphoid blast crisis (BC) and failed to develop an antileukemic response despite grade 3 graft-versus-host disease (GvHD). Complete hematologic, cytogenetic and molecular responses were achieved within 9 weeks of therapy and are maintained after 27 months. Extensive chronic skin GvHD necessitating immunosuppressive therapy developed after 14 months. This case illustrates the ability of imatinib to induce sustained hematologic and molecular remissions in some patients relapsing with advanced stage CML after alloSCT.