Parameter Group A: patients with Imatinib therapy for 15 months (N=28) Group B: patients with Imatinib therapy for 50 months (N=28)
Male sex N=15 (53.6 %) N=13 (46.4 %)
Age (yrs)1 60 (33-80) 61 (33-74)
Age ≥60 yrs N=16 (57.1 %) N=16 (57.1 %)
BMI (kg.m-2) 27.2 (16.8-38.1) 27.4 (16.0-40.0)
Other malignancies N=1 (3.6 %) N=2 (7.1 %)
Other cancer therapy N=1 (3.6 %) N=0 (0.0 %)
Cardiac problems N=11 (39.3 %) N=7 (25.0 %)
Stroke N=0 (0.0 %) N=1 (3.6 %)
Rheumatic disease N=5 (17.9 %) N=5 (17.9 %)
Gastrointestinal disorders N=7 (25.0 %) N=8 (28.6 %)
Invalidity N=12 (42.9 %) N=8 (28.6 %)
Rheumatic disease and/or invalidity N=17 (60.7 %) N=16 (57.1 %)
Prior CML treatment N=10 (35.7%) N=19 (67.9%)
-  Interferon-α
N=6 N=19
-  Hydroxyurea
N=10 N=17
-  Other treatment
N=5 N=11
Imatinib treatment (mg/day) -  Starting dose, mg/day
400 (200-400) 400 (300-400)
-  Baseline dose (mg/day)
400 (250-800) 400 (100-800)
Disease phase    
-  Chronic
N=27 (96.4%) N=27 (96.4%)
-  Not applicable
N=1 (3.6%) N=1 (3.6%)
Sokal risk group    
-  Low
N=7 (25.0%) N=9 (32.1%)
-  Intermediate
N=10 (35.7%) N=9 (32.1%)
-  High
N=6 (21.4%) N=3 (10.7%)
-  Not applicable
N=5 (17.9%) N=7 (25.0%)
Imatinib therapy status    
-  success
N=21 (75.0%) N=25 (89.3%)
-  failure*
N=7 (25.0%) N=3 (10.7%)
*Reason of failure    
-  Intolerance
N=1 N=1
-  Resistance
N=4 N=1
-  Mutation
N=3 N=0
-  Progression
N=2 N=1
1Continuous variable are summarized as median supplied with min -max range (in parentheses).
Binary variables are expresses as N (%) of a respective item.
*Imatinib failure was defined as a progression to advanced phase of the disease, loss of hematologic or cytogenetic response, lack of hematologic or cytogenetic response achievement at the defined time points, presence of Imatinib-resistant Bcr-Abl mutation, discontinuation of Imatinib treatment because of intolerance or death from any cause, whichever came first [11].
Table 1: Patient Demographic and Clinical Characteristics.