BACKGROUND: Published criteria defining the accelerated phase in
chronic myeloid leukemia are heterogeneous and little is known about predictors of poor outcome.
METHODS: This is a
retrospective study of 139 subjects in the accelerated phase of
chronic myeloid leukemia treated with
imatinib at a single center in
Brazil . The objective was to identify
risk factors for
survival , major
cytogenetic response and progression to
blast phase in this
population . The factors analyzed were blasts 10-29%,
basophils ≥ 20%,
platelets > 1 × 106/µL or <1 × 105/µL and
white blood cells > 1 × 105/µL in the peripheral
blood , as well as
clonal evolution ,
splenomegaly ,
hemoglobin < 10 g/dL,
time between
diagnosis of
chronic myeloid leukemia and
imatinib treatment , and hematologic
toxicity .
RESULTS: Risk factors for poor
survival in
multivariate analysis were Grades 3-4 hematologic
toxicity (p-value = 0.001), blasts 10-29% (p-value = 0.023), and
hemoglobin < 10 g/dL (p-value = 0.04).
Risk factors for not achieving major
cytogenetic response were blasts 10-29% (p-value = 0.007),
hemoglobin < 10 g/dL (p-value = 0.001), and previous use of
interferon (p-value = 0.032).
Risk factors for progression to the
blast phase were
hemoglobin < 10 g/dL (p-value = 0.005),
basophils ≥ 20% (p-value = 0.023), and
time from
diagnosis of
chronic myeloid leukemia to
imatinib treatment > 12 months (p-value = 0.030).
CONCLUSION: These data indicate that
patients with the above
risk factors have a worse
prognosis . This information can guide the
therapy to be used.