OBJECTIVETo explore the efficacy of imatinib (IM)-based chemotherapy followed by allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (allo-SCT) in first complete remission (CR1) for adult Ph(+) acute lymphoblastic leukemia \[Ph(+)-ALL\].

METHODSFrom March 2006 to December 2010, 16 adult Ph(+)-ALL were enrolled in the study. All patients received IM combined with standard VDCP ± L as induction therapy then intensive consolidation with modified Hyper-CVAD/MA regimen plus IM, and followed by allo-SCT in CR1. Some of them received IM maintenance therapy after allo-SCT. With the follow up to March 31, 2011, the clinical parameters. overall survival (OS), disease free survival (DFS), relapse incidence (RI), non-relapse mortality (NRM) and prognostic factors were analyzed.

RESULTSAll 16 patients achieved morphological complete remission (CR), and 10 of them achieved molecular CR. After transplantation, all patients obtained successful engraftments. With a median follow-up of 27.1 (7.4 - 65.8) months, 14 patients were alive, 2 died from NRM, and 2 relapsed. The estimated OS and DFS at 3 year were (85.9 ± 9.3)% and (83.9 ± 10.5)%, and cumulative RI and NRM at 3 year were (16.1 ± 10.5)% and (14.1 ± 9.3)%, respectively. None prognostic factor was found on analysis.

CONCLUSIONIM combined with intensive chemotherapy significantly increased the CR rate and improved the quality of CR, which prepared the feasibility of allo-SCT in CR1. IM therapy pre- and post-allo-SCT would be a promising strategy for adult Ph(+)-ALL to decrease relapse and facilitates favorable OS and DFS.