The Extent of Minimal Residual Disease Reduction After the First 4-Week Imatinib Therapy Determines Outcome of Allogeneic Stem Cell Transplantation in Adults With Philadelphia Chromosome- Positive Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia.

The article reports on a study identifying risk factors that affect the impact of imatinib on the outcome of allogeneic stem cell transplantation in adults with Philadelphia chromosome-positive acute lymphoblastic leukemia (Ph-positive ALL). The study says that the identification of subgroups of Ph-positive ALL transplants at high risk of relapse can be allowed by prospective assessment of the extent of minimal residual disease reduction after the first 4-week imatinib therapy.