THE AIM of this preliminary study was to estimate the efficacy and adverse events of imatinib, a selective tyrosine kinase inhibitor, in children with chronic myeloid leukaemia.
Material and methods: Six children aged 7-12 with follow-up from 5.5 to 25.5 months were enrolled into the study. Imatinib was administered in daily dose 340 mg/m(2) (maximum 400 mg) and was continued for a period from 2.5 to 14.5 months until haematopoietic stem cell transplantation.
Results: Complete haematological remission was achieved in 5 out of 6 patients. Complete and major cytogenetic remission was achieved in 3 and 2 children, respectively. Molecular remission was achieved in 3 children with complete cytogenetic remission. One child with chronic myeloid leukaemia diagnosed at blast crisis demonstrated resistance to imatinib therapy. During imatinib therapy myalgia, ostealgia and mild myelosuppression were observed.
Conclusions: Imatinib seems to be an efficient and well tolerated drug in children with chronic myeloid leukaemia. However, its use in advanced leukaemia may be ineffective. Therefore, further research on the efficacy of imatinib should be carried out as well as the most effective dosage needs to he worked out.