The Effect of Imatinib Mesylate for Newly Diagnosed Philadelphia Chromosome-Positive, Chronic-Phase Myeloid Leukemia in Sub-Saharan African Patients: The Experience of Côte d'Ivoire.

Imatinib mesylate, showed encouraging activity in chronic myelogenous leukemia. However, there are few data regarding his efficacy and response monitoring in Sub-Saharan African patients. Our objective was to assess response to imatinib mesylate (Glivec) in Côte d'Ivoire patients with newly diagnosed Chronic Myeloid Leukemia (CML). From May 2005 to September 2009, we treated 42 patients (40 years; range 16-69) with Philadelphia chromosome (Ph+) positive in chronic phase CML with oral imatinib mesylate at daily doses of 400 mg. Overall survival (OS) and frequency of complete or major cytogenetic remission (CCR/MCR) were evaluated. At a median follow up of 32 (range 7.6-113) months, the CHR rate in our study group was 76%. A major CR was found in 19 patients (45%) with 17% and 29% complete and partial CR respectively. There were no significant differences in the incidence of major cytogenetic response by known prognostics factors. Median time to CHR was 8 months (range 0.4-25), and 16 months (range: 0.1-36) for CR. Projected 5-year OS rate was 72% (95%CI 42-88). We conclude that imatinib therapy sub-Saharan African CML patients is very promising and has favorably changed the prognosis for black African patients with CML.

[Chronic lymphocytic leukemia in Subsaharian Africa: clinical outcome experience of Côte d'Ivoire]. / La leucémie lymphoïde chronique du Noir en Afrique subsaharienne : caractéristiques cliniques thérapeutiques et pronostiques (cas de la Côte d'Ivoire).

We reported in this retrospective study the clinical outcome of 56 chronic lymphoïd leukemia of black African in Ivory Coast and the predicting prognosis factors. The mean age was 62 years old with average of 38 to 84 years. According to Binet staging, 29 patients with stage A, and respectively 11 and 16 patient for stage B and C. All patient received chemotherapy protocol regimens (CVP, chlorambucil, CHOP). The global response was 51.78%. The death occurred in 29 patients. The mean survival was 8.22 years. The disease free survival was 58.8% at 5 years. In univariate analysis, factors with high-risk of death are patients age above 60 years, the presence of node, liver involvement, Spleen large IV and V of Hackett classification, WBC superior to 100,000/microL, lymphocytosis superior to 63,000/microL, Anaemia inferior to 10 g/dL, thrombopenia inferior to 100,000/microL, medullar lymphocytosis superior to 73% and Binet Stage B and C. In multivariate analysis, only age, adenopathy, hepatomegaly and lymhocytosis were an independent prognostic factor for predicting survival.