Profile of BCR-ABL transcript levels based on Sokal prognostic score in chronic myeloid leukemia patients treated with imatinib.

AIM to elucidate the pattern of molecular response assessed by logarithmic reduction in BCR-ABL transcription levels based on Sokal prognostic score in chronic phase chronic myeloid leukemia (CML) patients receiving Imatinib treatment. METHODS cross-sectional study was conducted in the Hematologic Outpatient Clinic, Dr. Soetomo Hospital Surabaya in all chronic phase CML patients from June 2008 to June 2012. Data on subject characteristics (age and sex), complete blood count with differential and spleen size were collected. Patients were stratified according to Sokal score at diagnosis. Real-time quantitative PCR (RT-qPCR) were used to monitor BCR-ABL levels in patients who fulfilled study. Proportion difference of complete molecular response (MR) was analyzed by chi-square test, while differences of BCR-ABL transcript level among Sokal prognostic scole subgroups was analyzed by Kruskal-Wallis test. RESULTS 40 subjects finished the study. After 18 months of Imatinib treatment, the undetected BCR-ABL transcript level (complete MR) were 7(70%), 8(66.7%), and 9(50%) in low-, intermediate-, and high risk group patients, respectively (p=0.417). Although proportion of subjects with complete MR is higher in sokal low risk group compared to in sokal high risk groups (70% v.s. 50%), but this difference is not statistically significant (p=0.557). Kruskal-Wallis test showed that there was no significant difference of BCR-ABL transcript level among Sokal prognostic score subgroup (p=0.734). CONCLUSION there was no difference of BCR-ABL transcript level among sokal prognostic score risk groups in chronic phase CML patients treated with Imatinib.