Objective: To investigate the efficacy of first-line administration of generic dasatinib or first-generation TKI (imatinib) in patients with Philadelphia chromosome positive acute lymphoblastic leukemia (Ph(+) ALL) treated by hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT). Methods: Clinical features and prognoses of 63 newly diagnosed Ph(+) ALL patients from Jan 2014 to June 2017 treated by HSCT combined with first-line administration of generic dasatinib or imatinib were retrospective analyzed. Results: Of 63 Ph(+) ALL patients, 31 cases were administered generic dasatinib, and the other 32 ones imatinib. Complete remission (CR) rates at the fourth week of induction therapy in generic dasatinib and imatinib groups were 96.8% and 93.8% (P=1.000) , respectively. Meanwhile major molecular response (MMR; BCR-ABL/ABL reduce 3log) rates were 41.9% and 43.8% (χ(2)=0.021, P=0.884), respectively. Relapse rates before transplantation were 6.5% and 12.5% (P=0.672), respectively. MMR rates before HSCT were 83.9% and 68.8% (χ(2)=1.985, P=0.159), respectively. The 20-monthes overall survival (OS) rates of generic dasatinib and imatinib groups were 95.5% and 76.5% (χ(2)=0.990, P=0.320) respectively; 20-monthes event-free survival (EFS) rates were 93.5% and 61.4% (χ(2)=5.926, P=0.015), respectively. Statistically significant differences of EFS were reached. Multiple factors analysis showed that generic dasatinib (HR=0.201, 95% CI 0.045-0.896, P=0.035) and MMR before transplantation (HR=0.344, 95% CI 0.124-0.956, CI=0.041) could improve EFS. Conclusions: First-line administration of generic dasatinib could improve EFS for Ph(+)ALL patients treated by HSCT when compered with imatinib.
Dasatinib/administration & dosage* ; Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation ; Humans ; Imatinib Mesylate/administration & dosage* ; Philadelphia Chromosome ; Precursor Cell Lymphoblastic Leukemia-Lymphoma/therapy* ; Retrospective Studies

OBJECTIVETo investigate the factors which may influence the imatinib plasma concentration in Chinese patients with gastrointestinal stromal tumor(GIST), and to illuminate the significance of monitoring imatinib plasma concentration in adjuvant therapy for patients with GIST.

METHODSA cross-sectional study with 60 GIST patients who accepted the imatinib therapy after surgery was conducted. They were respectively administrated in 10 domestic hospitals from December 2014 to April 2016, including The First Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing Medical University(n=28), The Affiliated Hospital of Nantong University(n=9), The Affiliated Hospital of Xuzhou Medical College(n=6), Nanjing Drum Tower Hospital(n=5), The Second Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing Medical University (n=2), Jingling Hospital (n=2), The Second People's Hospital of Lianyungang(n=2), Shandong Provincial Hospital(n=2), Jiangsu Province Tumor Hospital(n=2), and The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhejiang University(n=2). Some specific time points for collecting blood sample before and after taking imatinib were determined, then liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) method was used for monitoring imatinib plasma concentration in patients with GIST. Linear regression analysis was used for the correlation analysis of imatinib plasma concentration with dosage, clinicopathologic feature and side effect.

RESULTSPatients who could not tolerate 400 mg imatinib per day(n=3) received 300 mg per day. There was no significant difference in imatinib plasma concentration between patients with 300 mg and those with 400 mg imatinib(n=53)(P=0.527). However, the imatinib plasma concentration in patients with 600 mg imatinib per day (n=4) was significantly higher as compared to those with 400 mg(P=0.000). Linear regression analysis indicated a negative correlation between the imatinib plasma concentration in patients with 400mg imatinib per day for 90 days continuously and body surface area(R=0.074, P=0.035), but no significant correlations of with age, creatinine clearance and serum albumin concentration were observed (all P>0.05). The differences in imatinib plasma concentration were not statistically significant between patients of different gender and those taking proton-pump inhibitor (PPI) or not (both P>0.05). Difference in imatinib plasma concentration between patients with different surgery was significant (P=0.026). Compared to patients who underwent wedge resection, enterectomy and other surgeries, the imatinib plasma concentration of patients with subtotal gastrectomy or total gastrectomy decreased significantly (all P<0.05). After 90 days of taking imatinib continuously, linear regression analysis revealed a negative correlation between imatinib plasma concentration in patients with 400 mg imatinib per day and white blood cell count (R=0.103, P=0.013), and a positive correlation with serum alanine aminotransferase (ALT) concentration (R=0.076, P=0.033).

CONCLUSIONSThe imatinib plasma concentration in patients with larger body surface area, subtotal gastrectomy or total gastrectomy may be lower. For these patients, dosage of imatinib should be considered to increase in order to achieve effective plasma concentration. Excessive imatinib plasma concentration can result in some side effects, such as decrease of white blood cells and liver damage. Therefore, it is significant for receiving optimal clinical therapeutic efficacy to monitor imatinib plasma concentration, adjust imatinib dosage timely and keep imatinib plasma concentration in effective and safe range.

Adult ; Antineoplastic Agents ; administration & dosage ; pharmacokinetics ; Benzamides ; Combined Modality Therapy ; Cross-Sectional Studies ; Female ; Gastrectomy ; Gastrointestinal Stromal Tumors ; drug therapy ; surgery ; Humans ; Imatinib Mesylate ; administration & dosage ; pharmacokinetics ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Piperazines ; Pyrimidines ; Tandem Mass Spectrometry

PURPOSE: This study was designed to characterize the pharmacokinetic profile and to assess bioequivalence of the sponsor's test formulation (imatinib mesylate 400 mg tablets) with an innovator product (Gleevec 400 mg tablets, Novartis Pharmaceuticals) under fed conditions, in adult patients of Philadelphia chromosome positive chronic myeloid leukemia (Ph+ CML) stabilized on imatinib mesylate 400 mg. In addition, the aim of this study was to monitor the safety profile of investigational medicinal products (IMPs). MATERIALS AND METHODS: A multicenter, randomized, open label, two-period, crossover, single dose bioequivalence study was designed for conduct under fed conditions in 42 adult Ph+ CML patients already stabilized on imatinib 400 mg tablets. Pharmacokinetic parameters Tmax, Cmax, and AUC0-24 were calculated using a non-compartmental model on validated WinNonlin software. Validated SAS software was used for statistical evaluation of data. The safety profile of investigational products was monitored during the course of study by applying a clinical process for recording observed untoward effects postadministration of investigational products. RESULTS: The 90% confidence intervals for the test/reference mean ratios of the ln-transformed PK variables Cmax (99.0%) and AUC0-24 (99.2%) were within an acceptable range of 80%-125%, as per bioequivalence assumptions. Both formulations were well tolerated after oral administration of IMPs. CONCLUSION: The test product was found to be bioequivalent and safe, and thus can be used interchangeably in clinical practice.
Administration, Oral ; Adult ; Humans ; Imatinib Mesylate* ; Leukemia ; Leukemia, Myelogenous, Chronic, BCR-ABL Positive* ; Mesylates ; Pharmacokinetics ; Philadelphia Chromosome ; Tablets* ; Therapeutic Equivalency*

We report here a case of strongyloidiasis in a 72-year-old diabetic patient (woman) accompanied by gastrointestinal stromal tumor receiving imatinib therapy, first diagnosed as hypereosinophilic syndrome and treated with steroids for uncontrolled eosinophilia. She suffered from lower back pain and intermittent abdominal discomfort with nausea and diagnosed with gastrointestinal stromal tumor. After post-operative imatinib treatment eosinophilia persisted, so that steroid therapy was started under an impression of hypereosinophilic syndrome. In spite of 6 months steroid therapy, eosinophilia persisted. Stool examination was performed to rule out intestinal helminth infections. Rhabditoid larvae of Strongyloides stercoralis were detected and the patient was diagnosed as strongyloidiasis. This diagnosis was confirmed again by PCR. The patient was treated with albendazole for 14 days and her abdominal pain and diarrhea improved. This case highlights the need for thorough investigation, including molecular approaches, to test for strongyloidiasis before and during steroid therapies.
Aged ; Albendazole/administration & dosage ; Animals ; Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2/complications ; Eosinophilia/complications/*drug therapy ; Female ; Gastrointestinal Stromal Tumors/complications/*drug therapy ; Humans ; Imatinib Mesylate/*administration & dosage ; Steroids/*administration & dosage ; Strongyloides stercoralis/genetics/isolation & purification/physiology ; Strongyloidiasis/*drug therapy/parasitology

This study was aimed to evaluate the efficacy and safety of imatinib in the treatment of patients with adult Ph chromosome-positive acute lymphoblastic leukemia (Ph(+)ALL). A total of 32 diagnosed adult Ph(+)ALL patients from July 2007 to February 2014 in our hospital were retrospectively analyzed and were divided into two groups: imatinib plus chemotherapy group and traditional chemotherapy group. The differences between two groups were analysed in disease-free survival time (DFS), overall survival time (OS) and toxicity. The G banding technigue was used to analyse the karyotype, and the flow cytometry was applyed to detect the immune markers on surface of cells. The results showed that all patients expressed B cell and hematopietic stem/progenitor cell immune markers, out of them 21 patients (65.6%) were with myeloid antigens, 27 patients with simple Ph (+) phenotype and 5 patients with additional chromosome abnormality. The DFS and OS of the imatinib group were statistically longer than those of the traditional chemotherapy group (14.3 ± 4.7 months vs 10.7 ± 3.8 months) (P < 0.05) and 22.6 ± 6.8 months vs 10.7 ± 3.8 months) (P < 0.05)). There was no significant difference in toxic effects between two groups (P > 0.05)). It is concluded that the all cases of adult Ph(+)ALL are with B cell phenotype and express hematopietic stem/progenitor cell antigen. They often accompanied by expression of myeloid antigens and additonal chromosome abnormality in genetics. The combination of imatinib with chemotherapy can prolong remission time and survival time for patients of non-hematopietic stem cell transplantation on the basis of no notably increasing the toxic effects.
Adult ; Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols ; therapeutic use ; Benzamides ; administration & dosage ; Disease-Free Survival ; Humans ; Imatinib Mesylate ; Philadelphia Chromosome ; Piperazines ; administration & dosage ; Precursor Cell Lymphoblastic Leukemia-Lymphoma ; drug therapy ; genetics ; Pyrimidines ; administration & dosage ; Retrospective Studies ; Treatment Outcome

Imatinib has been recognized as the frontline therapy drug in chronic myeloid leukemia (CML), however, only limited patients could achieve complete molecular remission (CMR). Recent clinical and basic proofs indicated an improved treatment outcome by the combination of interferon and Imatinib. This study was purposed to evaluated systematically the efficacy and safety of interferon plus Imatinib in patients with CML. Data from relative clinical trials were from clinical trial of gov and Cochrane Collaboration. A comprehensive literature search was performed from data bases such as pubMed and EM. The results indicated that 7 clinical trials and 12 research papers met the criteria enrolled in study, included 697 cases in total. The combination group had higher complete cytogenetic remission (CCgR) rate than imatinib alone at 6 months (58% vs 42%; P = 0.0001) and 12 months (74% vs 68%; P = 0.004). The major molecular remission (MMR) rate was also higher in the combination group at 6 months (58% vs 34%; P = 0.0001) and 12 months (66% vs 47%; P < 0.0001). Furthermore, compared with single drug, the combination group had superior CMR rate at 6 months (13% vs 2%; P = 0.0002) and 12 months (14% vs 5%; P = 0.0009). The major adverse effects of combination therapy were rash, asthenia, edema and musculoskeletal events, and combination therapy was more prone to inducing neutropenia, thrombocytopenia and mild anemia. It is concluded that compared with Imatinib alone, the combination of interferon and Imatinib has better clinical efficacy in treating CML with earlier cytogenetic and molecular remission. It is also a safe therapy in spite of slightly weaker tolerance than single drug therapy.
Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols ; adverse effects ; therapeutic use ; Benzamides ; administration & dosage ; adverse effects ; Humans ; Imatinib Mesylate ; Interferons ; administration & dosage ; adverse effects ; Leukemia, Myelogenous, Chronic, BCR-ABL Positive ; drug therapy ; Piperazines ; administration & dosage ; adverse effects ; Pyrimidines ; administration & dosage ; adverse effects ; Treatment Outcome

OBJECTIVETo investigate the role of imatinib in induction therapy for newly diagnosed adult patients with Philadephia chromosome-positive acute lymphoblastic leukemia (Ph⁺ALL), as well as the status of allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (allo-HSCT) in the treatment of adult Ph⁺ ALL in imatinib era.

METHODSRetrospectively analyzed 97 newly diagnosed adult Ph⁺ ALL patients from 2005 to 2013. According to whether administrated imatinib in the induction therapy and the administrating duration (≥3 d) , they were divided into imatinib (n=37) and non-imatinib group (n=60), and the former group was further divided into early-use (n=26) and late-use imatinib groups (n=11) (bounded by the fourteenth day of induction chemotherapy). We compared the overall response rate (ORR) and the negative rate of BCR-ABL fusion gene in patients who achieved complete remission (CR) or CR with incomplete recovery of blood cells (CRi) among the three groups at the end of the first induction therapy. There were 44 cases underwent allo-HSCT (transplant group) and 33 cases only adopted imatinib-based chemotherapy (non-transplant group) in 77 patients who administrated imatinib as a maintenance therapy, we further compared the incidences of overall survival (OS) , disease-free survival (DFS), relapse and nonrelapse mortality (NRM) between the two groups; and dynamically monitor polymerase chain reaction (PCR) negativity of patients who were in CR1 state before transplant (n=34) at the following timepoints of achieving CR or CRi, the first consolidation therapy, beginning the pretreatment of transplant and attaining hematopoietic reconstruction after transplant.

RESULTSAfter the first induction therapy, the ORR of imatinib group was significantly higher than of non-imatinib group (97.3%, 72.9% respectively, P=0.002), but early-use and late-use imatinib groups had no statistical significance in ORR (100% , 90.9% respectively, P=0.297); the rate of negativity of imatinib and non- imatinib groups were 20.0% and 0 respectively (P=0.041) in patients who achieved CR or CRi. The negative rate of patients in CR1 state before transplant attained 20.8%, 42.3%, 51.8%, 76.8%, respectively at the previously described 4 timepoints. And the differences between the fourth and the third, the third and the first timepiont all reached statistical significance (P=0.044, 0.022, respectively). The 5-year OS of transplant and non- transplant groups showed statistical difference (47.0%, 28.0% respectively, P=0.016), also for 5-year DFS (P=0.001) and the cumulative rate of relapse (P=0.000) of the former surpassing the latter; the cumulative rate of NRM between these two groups had no statistical significance (P=0.370).

CONCLUSIONConventional induction chemotherapy in combination with imatinib in the first induction therapy of adult Ph⁺ ALL, not only improved the rate of hematologic remission, also the rate of molecular response. Imatinib used as a consolidation and maintenance therapy after remission, and allo-HSCT scheduled as soon as possible improved the prognosis.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Aged ; Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols ; therapeutic use ; Benzamides ; administration & dosage ; therapeutic use ; Disease-Free Survival ; Female ; Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation ; Humans ; Imatinib Mesylate ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Philadelphia Chromosome ; Piperazines ; administration & dosage ; therapeutic use ; Precursor Cell Lymphoblastic Leukemia-Lymphoma ; therapy ; Protein Kinase Inhibitors ; administration & dosage ; therapeutic use ; Pyrimidines ; administration & dosage ; therapeutic use ; Retrospective Studies ; Transplantation, Homologous ; Treatment Outcome ; Young Adult

OBJECTIVETo evaluate the recurrence-free survival (RFS) and safety of imatinib adjuvant therapy with longer treatment duration in patients undergoing complete resection of localized primary gastrointestinal stromal tumor (GIST).

METHODSClinical and follow-up data of 101 GIST patients between March 2004 and May 2009 with intermediate or high recurrence risk receiving imatinib adjuvant treatment and more than 3 years follow-up time in Peking University Cancer Hospital were retrospectively analyzed. Imatinib adjuvant treatment: 3 patients discontinued less than 1 year imatinib treatment because of adverse events; 24, 21 and 18 patients discontinued imatinib after 1 year, 2 years, and 3 years treatment; 8 patients received 3 years adjuvant treatment and were ongoing; 27 patients received more than 4 years imatinib adjuvant treatment.

RESULTSThe median follow-up time was 60 months (95%CI:57.9-62.1). Nineteen patients had GIST recurrence, of whom recurrence happened during imatinib adjuvant therapy in 5 patients and after imatinib treatment in 14 patients. The median period from imatinib stopping to recurrence was 12.0 months (95%CI:9.6-14.4). Patients with recurrent GIST achieved tumor control after imatinib resumption. RFS of patients (n=53) with ≥3 years imatinib treatment duration was higher than that of patients (n=48) with <3 years imatinib duration (93.9% vs. 68.0%, P<0.01). In addition, prolonged adjuvant imatinib duration did not significantly increase the adverse events related to treatment (P>0.05).

CONCLUSIONSProlonged adjuvant imatinib duration may further improve RFS rate further in patients with intermediate or high risk of recurrence after complete tumor resection without increased adverse events.

Adult ; Aged ; Benzamides ; administration & dosage ; therapeutic use ; Chemotherapy, Adjuvant ; Disease-Free Survival ; Female ; Follow-Up Studies ; Gastrointestinal Neoplasms ; drug therapy ; Gastrointestinal Stromal Tumors ; drug therapy ; Humans ; Imatinib Mesylate ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Neoplasm Recurrence, Local ; Piperazines ; administration & dosage ; therapeutic use ; Pyrimidines ; administration & dosage ; therapeutic use ; Retrospective Studies ; Treatment Outcome

OBJECTIVETo measure the levels of hormones in chronic myelogenous leukemia (CML) patients receiving imatinib mesylate (IM) and evaluate the effects of IM on endocrine system.

METHODS69 patients with CML while taking IM were enrolled and a total of 86 peripheral blood samples were detected. The levels of total triiodothyronine (TT3), total tetraiodothyronine (TT4), thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH), testosterone, progesterone, estradiol (E2), plasma total cortisol (PTC) at 8:00-10:00 am measured. Concentration of hormones in different groups were measured to evaluate the effects of IM on endocrine system and relationships with its administration duration, plasma concentration and clinical symptoms.

RESULTS(1) Of the 7 types of hormones, an elevation of TSH level was found in 14 patients (20.3%), a decrease of TT3 and testosterone in 8 patients (11.6%) and 8 males (18.6%), respectively. (2) A significant decline of TT3 and testosterone was observed in all patients divided by different administration duration. Negative correlation was seen between TT3 level and duration of administration (r=-0.273, P=0.010), which was also found for testosterone (r=-0.302, P=0.025). (3) There was no correlation between serum levels of the seven hormones and concentration of IM.

CONCLUSIONIM affect the levels of thyroid and sex hormones in some patients with clinical manifestations: a decrease of TT3, testosterone and testosterone, an increase of TSH, which have relationship with the duration of administration.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Benzamides ; administration & dosage ; blood ; therapeutic use ; Female ; Humans ; Imatinib Mesylate ; Leukemia, Myelogenous, Chronic, BCR-ABL Positive ; blood ; drug therapy ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Piperazines ; administration & dosage ; blood ; therapeutic use ; Pyrimidines ; administration & dosage ; blood ; therapeutic use ; Thyrotropin ; blood ; Triiodothyronine ; blood ; Young Adult

OBJECTIVEMeta-analysis of the efficiencies of imatinib mesylate (IM) with or without interferon for chronic myeloid leukemia-chronic phase (CML-CP) patients.

METHODSPublished studies of IM with or without interferon for CML-CP patients as first-line therapy were collected from PubMed, Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials (CENTRAL) of the Cochrane Library, China National Knowledge Infrastructure (CNKI), China Biology Medicine (CBM), VIP information and WANFANG database. References of retrieved articles were also identified. The quality of each randomized controlled trial (RCT) was evaluated by the Cochrane collaboration's tool for assessing the risk of bias. Data analysis was performed with RevMan 5.1.

RESULTSA total of 5 articles involving 1754 patients were included. Meta-analysis results showed that there were no statistical differences between IM with interferon and IM monotherapy for the complete cytogenetic response (CCyR) rate at 12 months,but IM with interferon could improve major molecular response (MMR) rate at 12 months (OR=1.57, 95% CI: 1.26-1.96, P=0.02). Furthermore, IM combined with pegylated-interferon demonstrated superiority for MMR at 12 months (OR=2.43, 95% CI: 1.78-3.33, P<0.01).

CONCLUSIONCombination of IM and interferon does not increase CCyR rate, but improve MMR rate at 12 months.

Benzamides ; administration & dosage ; therapeutic use ; Drug Therapy, Combination ; Humans ; Imatinib Mesylate ; Interferons ; administration & dosage ; therapeutic use ; Leukemia, Myeloid, Chronic-Phase ; drug therapy ; Piperazines ; administration & dosage ; therapeutic use ; Pyrimidines ; administration & dosage ; therapeutic use ; Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic ; Treatment Outcome