Chronic myeloid leukemia treated with busulfan: Relationship between total amount of drug required during the first year of treatment and duration of chronic phase

Interferon alpha is presently viewed as the first choice drug for treatment of chronic myeloid leukemia; however patients who are not eligible for this type of therapy are still treated with conventional chemotherapeutic agents as for instance hydroxyurea and/or busulfan. In a series of 23 patients with Philadelphia chromosome positive chronic myeloid leukemia who have been treated solely with busulfan, we have evaluated the relationship between total amount of drug required during the first 12 months of treatment and duration of the chronic phase. A statistically significant (p<0.005) inverse relationship between these two parameters was found, indicating that patients with low busulfan requirement during the first year of therapy have a better prognosis.