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Tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs) of BCR/ABL have revolutionized the treatment of chronic myeloid leukemia (CML) during the past 15 years, with many patients achieving molecular remission.
French investigators have now studied long-term outcomes of discontinuing imatinib therapy in 100 patients who had sustained complete molecular remission for 2 or more years. Following discontinuation, patients received reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) testing for BCR/ABL transcripts monthly in year 1, every 2 months in year 2, and then every 3 months thereafter. Molecular relapse was defined as 2 consecutive RT-PCR positive results or loss of major molecular response.
At a median follow-up of 77 months, the 5-year molecular remissio…