The introduction of the tyrosine kinase inhibitor (TKI) imatinib has revolutionised the outlook of chronic myeloid leukemia (CML); however, a significant proportion of patients develop resistance through several mechanisms, of which acquisition of ABL1 kinase domain mutations is prevalent. In chronic-phase patients, these mutations become evident early in the disease course. A case is described of a chronic-phase CML patient who achieved a sustained, deep molecular response but who developed an Y253H ABL1 kinase domain mutation nearly nine years after commencing imatinib. Switching therapy to bosutinib resulted in a rapid reachievement of a major molecular response. Long-term TKI treatment impacts on quality of life and late losses of responses are usually due to lack of adherence. This case highlights the requirement for ABL1 kinase domain mutation analysis in those CML patients on long-term imatinib who lost their molecular response, regardless of whether nonadherence is suspected.
1. Introduction
Introduction of the tyrosine kinase inhibitor (TKI) imatinib has revolutionised the treatment of patients with chronic myeloid leukemia (CML) with long-term administration showing persistent efficacy and lack of unacceptable cumulative or late toxic effects [1]. Resistance to imatinib, either primary or acquired, is a recurrent problem in a significant proportion of CML patients that have been largely abrogated by the development and introduction of second- and third-generation TKIs [2]. One of the major causes of imatinib resistance is the development of BCR-ABL1-positive clones harboring mutations within the ABL1 kinase domain (KD) with identification of these mutations as important in selecting a subsequent TKI [3]. Studies have shown that, in newly diagnosed, chronic-phase CML patients, ABL1 KD mutations predominantly manifest within eighteen months of commencing imatinib and usually in those patients whose best response has only been hematological or cytogenetic [4, 5]. Evidence exists for both increased and low rates of ABL1 KD mutations in late as opposed to early chronic-phase patients [6, 7]. A CML patient is described in whom an ABL1 KD mutation was detected nearly nine years after starting imatinib and who had previously achieved a sustained and deep molecular response.
2. Case Report
A 49-year-old female presented with nausea, vomiting, and weight loss. Full blood count revealed a white blood cell count of 238.0 × 109/L, hemoglobin of 7.7 g/dL, and platelets of 746 × 109/L. Bone marrow morphology revealed granulocytic hyperplasia with increased megakaryocytes and <1% myeloblasts. Cytogenetics detected the t(9;22) translocation with molecular analysis demonstrating high levels of e13a2 BCR-ABL1 transcripts, consistent with a diagnosis of chronic-phase CML with a low-risk Sokal score. She commenced imatinib 400 mg oral daily with transient toxicities of nausea and increased susceptibility to infections but overall tolerated imatinib well, achieving a major molecular response (MMR) of BCR-ABL1/ABL1 0.09% on the International Scale (IS) at 20 months (Figure 1). BCR-ABL1 transcripts became undetectable (<0.001% IS) at 40 months with optimal adherence and a good quality of life. After BCR-ABL1 transcripts became undetectable, monitoring intervals were extended to six months. Rising transcript levels resulted in loss of MMR at 105 months, peaking at a BCR-ABL1/ABL1 IS of 3.43%, almost nine years after starting imatinib (Figure 1). After adherence was assured, ABL1 KD mutation analysis was performed as previously described [3, 8] and detected the Y253H (c.757T > C; NM_005157.5) mutation. The time between loss of MMR and mutation detection was six months. The patient then switched to bosutinib 500 mg oral daily [9], reduced to 400 mg oral daily after gastrointestinal toxicities, which resulted in an MMR within three months (BCR-ABL1/ABL1 IS 0.02%). The BCR-ABL1 transcript level continues to decline (Figure 1) with continued frequent monitoring advocated.
BCR-ABL1 transcript levels throughout clinical course.
3. Discussion
The long-term mild and chronic side effects of TKI therapy may impact on quality of life of CML patients and could be a trigger for lack of adherence [10]. Despite a minor delay in achieving an MMR [11], this patient maintained a sustained molecular response for a significant period of time. ABL1 kinase domain mutation analysis provided the rationale for switching TKI to bosutinib which induced a rapid molecular response. This case suggests that loss of MMR should always trigger ABL1 KD mutation analysis even after many years of follow-up, regardless of whether nonadherence is suspected.
Conflicts of Interest
The authors declare that there are no conflicts of interest regarding the publication of this paper.
HochhausA.LarsonR. A.GuilhotF.Long-term outcomes of imatinib treatment for chronic myeloid leukemia20173761091792710.1056/NEJMoa1609324JabbourE.KantarjianH.CortesJ.Use of second- and third-generation tyrosine kinase inhibitors in the treatment of chronic myeloid leukemia: an evolving treatment paradigm201515632333410.1016/j.clml.2015.03.0062-s2.0-84931569737SoveriniS.HochhausA.NicoliniF. E.BCR-ABL kinase domain mutation analysis in chronic myeloid leukemia patients treated with tyrosine kinase inhibitors: recommendations from an expert panel on behalf of European LeukemiaNet201111851208121510.1182/blood-2010-12-3264052-s2.0-80051573352BranfordS.RudzkiZ.WalshS.High frequency of point mutations clustered within the adenosine triphosphate-binding region of BCR/ABL in patients with chronic myeloid leukemia or Ph-positive acute lymphoblastic leukemia who develop imatinib (STI571) resistance20029993472347510.1182/blood.V99.9.34722-s2.0-0036566540BranfordS.RudzkiZ.WalshS.Detection of BCR-ABL mutations in patients with CML treated with imatinib is virtually always accompanied by clinical resistance, and mutations in the ATP phosphate-binding loop (P-loop) are associated with a poor prognosis2003102127628310.1182/blood-2002-09-28962-s2.0-10744232328SoveriniS.MartinelliG.RostiG.ABL mutations in late chronic phase chronic myeloid leukemia patients with up-front cytogenetic resistance to imatinib are associated with a greater likelihood of progression to blast crisis and shorter survival: a study by the GIMEMA Working Party on Chronic Myeloid Leukemia200523184100410910.1200/JCO.2005.05.5312-s2.0-23044458596HessG.MeyerR. G.SchuchB.BechtoldK.El-KholyI.HuberC.Sustained remissions and low rate of BCR-ABL resistance mutations with imatinib treatment chronic myelogenous leukemia in patients treated in late chronic phase: a 5-year follow up200883317818410.1002/ajh.210552-s2.0-39749189452McCarronS. L.O’ConnorL. M.LangabeerS. E.ConneallyE.BCR-ABL1 kinase domain mutation analysis in an Irish cohort of chronic myeloid leukemia patients201317217017310.1089/gtmb.2012.02722-s2.0-84872852577RedaelliS.MologniL.RostagnoR.Three novel patient-derived BCR/ABL mutants show different sensitivity to second and third generation tyrosine kinase inhibitors20128711E125E12810.1002/ajh.233382-s2.0-84867904395FlynnK. E.AtallahE.Quality of life and long-term therapy in patients with chronic myeloid leukemia2016112808510.1007/s11899-016-0306-52-s2.0-84958241812BaccaraniM.DeiningerM. W.RostiG.European LeukemiaNet recommendations for the management of chronic myeloid leukemia: 20132013122687288410.1182/blood-2013-05-5015692-s2.0-84881298446