Imatinib resistance was reversed by nilotinib in the acute transformation of chronic myeloid leukemia: A case report

• Main Authors: Meng Xiao, Hongjing Zhou, Shuguo Li, Chunlei Xin, Tongfeng Zhao, Yunliang Hao, Shumei Li, Yanyan Liang
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: Wiley 2017-12-01
• Series: Precision Radiation Oncology
• Subjects: chronic myeloid leukemia; imatinib; nilotinib; tyrosine kinase inhibitors
• Online Access: https://doi.org/10.1002/pro6.31

Abstract Chronic myeloid leukemia (CML) is a clonal malignant hematopoietic disorder that arises in a hematopoietic stem cell. Its characteristic cytogenetic abnormality is an abnormal chromosome 22 called the Philadelphia (Ph) chromosome. The BCR‐ABL1 fusion gene in this chromosome can encode a tyrosine protein kinase and is the molecular basis of CML pathogenesis. The tyrosine kinase inhibitor (TKI) imatinib is the ‘gold standard’ therapy for the treatment of CML. However, around 30% of the patients develop imatinib resistance. In this report, we will illustrate a case of an adult female with acute transformation of CML whose imatinib resistance was reversed by nilotinib and has had a long‐term survival.