Imatinib mesylate plus G-CSF therapy for chronic myelogenous leukemia in the blastic crisis

摘要

Imatinib mesylate (imatinib) has shown significant effects in patients with chronic myelogenous leukemia. However, hematological toxicity often occurs and requires dosage reduction or discontinuation of imatinib treatment. A patient with chronic myelogenous leukemia in the blastic crisis received granulocyte-colony stimulating factor (G-CSF) simultaneously with imatinib. The patient was continuously treated with imatinib and G-CSF and achieved remission without any severe infection or neutropenia. There are a few reports on the efficacy of combined therapy with G-CSF and imatinib; however, the results in our case are rare suggesting that the use of G-CSF is effective for preventing severe infection. G-CSF enables continuous treatment with high-dose imatinib.