Characteristics of the study group (N = 54)
| Characteristic . | No. (%) . |
|---|---|
| Age, at least 60 y | 23 (43) |
| Sex, female | 23 (43) |
| Performance status, ECOG | |
| 0 | 35 (65) |
| 1 | 19 (35) |
| Splenomegaly, at least 10 cm bcm | 4 (8) |
| Any hepatomegaly | 2 (4) |
| Time from diagnosis to therapy | |
| Less than 12 months | 5 (9) |
| 12 to 35 months | 25 (46) |
| 36 months or longer | 24 (44) |
| Hemoglobin level, less than 12 g/dL | 23 (43) |
| WBC count, at least 10 × 109/L | 36 (67) |
| Platelet count, at least 450 × 109/L | 20 (37) |
| Peripheral blasts present | 20 (37) |
| Marrow blasts, at least 5% | 8 (15) |
| Peripheral basophils, at least 7% | 13 (24) |
| Marrow basophils, at least 5% | 13 (24) |
| Ph+ at start of therapy | |
| 90% or lower | 2 (4) |
| More than 90% | 52 (96) |
| Clonal evolution present | 13 (24) |
| Disease group at start of 400 mg imatinib mesylate | |
| Hematologic relapse | 5 (9) |
| Hematologic resistance | 11 (20) |
| Cytogenetic relapse | 1 (2) |
| Cytogenetic resistance | 20 (37) |
| Interferon intolerance | 17 (31) |
| Characteristic . | No. (%) . |
|---|---|
| Age, at least 60 y | 23 (43) |
| Sex, female | 23 (43) |
| Performance status, ECOG | |
| 0 | 35 (65) |
| 1 | 19 (35) |
| Splenomegaly, at least 10 cm bcm | 4 (8) |
| Any hepatomegaly | 2 (4) |
| Time from diagnosis to therapy | |
| Less than 12 months | 5 (9) |
| 12 to 35 months | 25 (46) |
| 36 months or longer | 24 (44) |
| Hemoglobin level, less than 12 g/dL | 23 (43) |
| WBC count, at least 10 × 109/L | 36 (67) |
| Platelet count, at least 450 × 109/L | 20 (37) |
| Peripheral blasts present | 20 (37) |
| Marrow blasts, at least 5% | 8 (15) |
| Peripheral basophils, at least 7% | 13 (24) |
| Marrow basophils, at least 5% | 13 (24) |
| Ph+ at start of therapy | |
| 90% or lower | 2 (4) |
| More than 90% | 52 (96) |
| Clonal evolution present | 13 (24) |
| Disease group at start of 400 mg imatinib mesylate | |
| Hematologic relapse | 5 (9) |
| Hematologic resistance | 11 (20) |
| Cytogenetic relapse | 1 (2) |
| Cytogenetic resistance | 20 (37) |
| Interferon intolerance | 17 (31) |
ECOG indicates Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group; bcm, below costal margin; and WBC, white blood cell.