Outcome of four patients with chronic myeloid leukemia after imatinib mesylate discontinuation

Imatinib mesylate (IM) therapy is effective in patients with chronic myeloid leukemia (CML). However, whether it should be discontinued in patients who achieve sustained molecular response is debated. We describe 4 patients with undetectable levels of BCR-ABL transcripts in whom IM therapy was discontinued. Two patients relapsed after 7 and 10 months and promptly responded after restarting therapy; 2 patients are off therapy at the last follow-up visit after 14 and 15 months and are still in complete molecular remission.