To-date, most studies on drug discontinuation in CML have involved patients on imatinib who achieved CMR for some time. In this study from EHA 2011, researchers have studied imatinib-intolerant patients who were subsequently switched to the second-generation TKIs (nilotinib, dasatinib) and who had CMR for some time, and then discontinued the drug. The objective was to study if differences exist with patients on imatinib-only therapy. In 12 patients (median age 59 years) who had imatinib therapy for a median period of 50 months.
30% (4/12) of patients lost MMR by 6 months. MMR was rapidly regained upon early
2G-TKI re-introduction. Seven patients remained off therapy at the last follow-up after a median of 11 months, with either a stable CMR or weakly detectable BCR-ABL transcripts on one or more occasions.
The results appear encouraging, however, the trial is still in its early stages,and we will keep an eye out for the future results. Take care.