Discontinuation of Imatinib in Children with Chronic Myeloid Leukemia: A Study from the International Registry of Childhood CML

Simple Summary About 50% of adults with chronic myeloid leukemia (CML) in sustained deep molecular response (DMR) to tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKI) could discontinue the treatment permanently without molecular relapse. Recommendations regarding discontinuation apply only for adults because childhood CML is a very rare disease and represents a separate entity. The aim of our retrospective study was to assess within the International Registry of Childhood CML, the rate of children remaining in molecular response after discontinuation of imatinib in a context of DMR defined as BCR-ABL1/ABL1 < 0.01% (MR4) for at least two years. Eighteen patients less than 18 years old at diagnosis of CML exhibiting a sustained DMR followed by imatinib discontinuation were identified. After discontinuation, the molecular free remission rate was 61%, 56% and 56% at 6, 12 and 36 months, respectively. Our findings represent the basis of recommendation regarding discontinuation for physicians involved in the pediatric CML field. Within the International Registry of Childhood Chronic Myeloid Leukemia (CML), we identified 18 patients less than 18 years old at diagnosis of CML who were in the chronic phase and exhibiting a sustained deep molecular response (DMR) to imatinib defined as BCR-ABL1/ABL1 < 0.01% (MR4) for at least two years followed by discontinuation of imatinib. Before discontinuation, the median duration of imatinib was 73.2 months (range, 32-109) and the median duration of MR4 was 46.2 months (range, 23.9-98.6). Seven patients experienced loss of major molecular response (MMR) 4.1 months (range, 1.9-6.4) after stopping and so restarted imatinib. The median molecular follow-up after discontinuation was 51 months (range, 6-100) for the nine patients without molecular relapse. The molecular free remission rate was 61% (95% CI, 38-83%), 56% (95% CI, 33-79%) and 56% (95% CI, 33-79%) at 6, 12 and 36 months, respectively. Six of the seven children who experienced molecular relapse after discontinuation regained DMR (median, 4.7 months; range, 2.5-18) after restarting imatinib. No withdrawal syndrome was observed. In univariate analysis, age, sex, Sokal and ELTS scores, imatinib treatment and DMR durations before discontinuation had no influence on treatment free remission. These data suggest that imatinib can be safely discontinued in children with sustained MR4 for at least two years.