Karyotypic conversion in Ph1-positive chronic myeloid leukaemia with combination chemotherapy

Twelve previously untreated patients with Ph1-positive chronic myeloid leukaemia received combination chemotherapy soon after diagnosis. There was karyotypic conversion in five: in four, the percentage of Ph1-positive cells fell to 10 or less. In two other patients, who had mosaic karyotypes at presentation, the percentage fell to 5% and zero.