Cytogenetic clonal evolution (CE) is a known poor prognostic factor in Philadelphia chromosome–positive chronic myelogenous leukemia (Ph-positive CML). However, its prognostic relevance in the era of imatinib therapy is unknown. We investigated the independent prognostic relevance of CE in 498 patients with Ph-positive CML treated with imatinib for chronic or accelerated phases. One hundred twenty-one patients had CE alone (n = 70) or with other accelerated phase criteria (n = 51). Patients were compared in 4 categories: chronic phase (n = 295), CE only (n = 70), accelerated phase without CE (n = 82), and accelerated phase with CE (n = 51). Statistical methods used established methodologies for univariate and multivariate analyses. In chronic and accelerated phases of CML, CE was not associated with significant differences in major or complete cytogenetic response rates, but it was an independent poor prognostic factor for survival by multivariate analyses in both chronic (P = .005) and accelerated phase (P = .03). Multivariate analyses conducted at the 3-month landmark (including the 3-month cytogenetic response) identified the lack of cytogenetic response at 3 months to be a stronger independent poor prognostic factor for survival than CE for both chronic (major cytogenetic response versus other) and accelerated phase (any cytogenetic response versus other). We conclude that cytogenetic CE is not an important factor for achieving major or complete cytogenetic response with imatinib mesylate therapy, but it is an independent poor prognostic factor for survival in both chronic and accelerated phases of CML. The 3-month cytogenetic response to imatinib mesylate refined the prognostic relevance of such studies in patients on imatinib mesylate therapy.

Philadelphia chromosome (Ph)–positive chronic myelogenous leukemia (CML) presents and evolves through different phases: chronic, accelerated, and blastic.1-6 The Ph-related molecular abnormalities are causally associated with the pathophysiology of CML.7,8 Therapy of CML has been directed at suppressing the Ph-positive cells or Ph-associated molecular events and has included allogeneic stem cell transplantation (SCT), interferon α (IFN-α), and, more recently, imatinib mesylate (Gleevec, STI571; Novartis, East Hanover, NJ).9-30 

Cytogenetic clonal evolution is traditionally considered as a fingerprint of the multistep progression of CML. It was originally described in patients with blastic phase CML, occurring in 50% to 80% of cases, and involving nonrandom chromosomal abnormalities, including double Ph, trisomy 8, isochromosome 17, trisomies of chromosomes 19 and 20, and 20 q− abnormalities.31,32 Cytogenetic clonal evolution was later described in 5% to 10% of patients presenting with chronic phase CML and in 30% of patients developing accelerated phase features, and has been associated with poor prognosis.33-35 Cytogenetic clonal evolution was subsequently considered one of the factors defining accelerated phase CML.5 As more frequent marrow cytogenetic studies were performed in patients in chronic phase CML to monitor their cytogenetic response on IFN or other therapies, it was realized that this event, cytogenetic clonal evolution, was more common than expected and involved cytogenetic abnormalities other than the classical ones.36,37 The prognostic significance of cytogenetic clonal evolution was not uniform and depended on several factors: (1) the particular cytogenetic abnormality, (2) its frequency in metaphase analysis, (3) its association with other accelerated-phase features, (4) the time of occurrence (early versus late), and (5) the therapy of CML (IFN versus others).38,39 About half of the patients with cytogenetic clonal evolution showed suppression of the abnormal clone with IFN therapy.39 Cytogenetic clonal evolution as a single feature of “accelerated” phase CML was associated with good prognosis with allogeneic SCT and a long-term survival rate of 60%.40 

The significance of prognostic factors in disease states may be drastically altered with the introduction of new therapies that change prognosis significantly. Imatinib mesylate therapy now appears to be the most effective therapy for CML outside the setting of allogeneic SCT; its efficacy compared with allogeneic SCT will require further maturation of data and longer follow-up of patients on therapy. Cytogenetic clonal evolution is considered an evolution step independent of the Ph-related abnormalities, although arguably still partially related to the primary Ph molecular event. Therefore, the prognostic significance of cytogenetic clonal evolution may be altered in the setting of chronic and accelerated phases of CML with imatinib mesylate therapy. Herein, we analyzed the results of imatinib mesylate therapy in patients with chronic or accelerated phase CML with or without cytogenetic clonal evolution, in relation to response and survival.

Patients

Patients with Ph-positive CML in chronic or accelerated phases of CML treated on phase 2 studies of imatinib mesylate (Novartis studies 110, 109, 114, and 113) were analyzed. Those studies were approved by the Institutional Review Board, and all patients signed informed consent according to institutional guidelines. Eligibility criteria and pretreatment and follow-up studies have been detailed25-29; marrow cytogenetic analyses were performed every 3 months in the first year and every 3 to 6 months subsequently. Patients in chronic-phase CML received imatinib mesylate at a starting dose of 400 mg orally daily, whereas patients in accelerated-phase CML received imatinib mesylate 400 mg or 600 mg orally daily. Dose escalation for resistant disease and dose reductions for toxicities have been detailed extensively in previous reports.25-29 

In the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) pivotal trial in chronic phase (Novartis 110) and the expanded access trial in chronic phase (Novartis 113), patients with cytogenetic clonal evolution with no other criteria of accelerated phase were allowed to be treated on study. Moreover, the expanded access trial in accelerated phase (Novartis 114) allowed entry of patients with more “relaxed” criteria for accelerated phase, including splenomegaly 10 cm or more below the costal margin and the presence of 10% or more blasts. Patient registration by protocol and by the categories used for analysis (chronic phase, clonal evolution only, accelerated phase with or without cytogenetic clonal evolution) are shown in Table1. Only 1 of 495 patients (patient with accelerated-phase criteria registered on Novartis 113) was not eligible by the study criteria.

Table 1.

Study groups by CML category and protocol registration

Study registrationStudyChronicClonal
evolution only
Accelerated,
no clonal evolution
Accelerated +
clonal evolution
FDA pivotal, chronic Novartis 110 (N = 149)25 130 19 — —  
FDA pivotal, accelerated Novartis 109 (N = 59)26 — — 32 26 
Expanded access, chronic Novartis 113 (N = 112)28 106 —  
Expanded access, accelerated Novartis 114 (N = 179)29 59 46 49 25 
Total  295 70 82 51 
Study registrationStudyChronicClonal
evolution only
Accelerated,
no clonal evolution
Accelerated +
clonal evolution
FDA pivotal, chronic Novartis 110 (N = 149)25 130 19 — —  
FDA pivotal, accelerated Novartis 109 (N = 59)26 — — 32 26 
Expanded access, chronic Novartis 113 (N = 112)28 106 —  
Expanded access, accelerated Novartis 114 (N = 179)29 59 46 49 25 
Total  295 70 82 51 

— indicates not applicable.

For the purpose of this analysis, patients were considered to have accelerated phase if they met any of the following criteria: (1) peripheral or marrow blasts 15% or more, (2) peripheral or marrow basophils 20% or more, (3) peripheral or marrow blasts plus promyelocytes 30% or more, or (4) platelets less than 100 × 109/L unrelated to therapy. Patients were then analyzed for outcome of chronic or accelerated phase by the presence or absence of cytogenetic clonal evolution. These are the classical accelerated-phase criteria used in many studies5 but not in the expanded access study (Novartis 114) that allowed patients with less than such accelerated phase criteria to benefit from therapy.29 Thus, patients registered on Novartis study 114 were reclassified according to the above criteria.

Response criteria

Response criteria were as previously described.25 26 A complete hematologic response (CHR) was defined as normalization of peripheral blood counts and differentials (white blood cell [WBC] count < 10 × 109/L; no peripheral blasts or promyelocytes; < 5% myelocytes + metamyelocytes; platelets < 450 × 109/L) and disappearance of signs and symptoms of disease, including palpable splenomegaly. Within CHR, response was categorized by the degree of Ph suppression: complete cytogenetic response, Ph 0%; partial cytogenetic response, Ph 1% to 34%; minor cytogenetic response, Ph 35% to 90%. A major cytogenetic response included complete and partial cytogenetic responses (ie, Ph 0% to 34%). Cytogenetic clonal evolution was defined as the presence of any abnormality other than a single Ph; complex Ph abnormalities or loss of chromosome Y were not considered to be cytogenetic clonal evolution.

Suppression of clonal evolution was described according to the percentage of suppression. If it paralleled the degree of Ph cytogenetic response, it was described as part of the response. If there was a nonparallel response (eg, Ph suppression but persistence of clonal evolution or the reverse), the cytogenetic response reflected the higher (worse) percentage of either abnormality.

Statistical consideration

Survival was measured from the start of therapy until death from any cause. Prognostic factor analysis for response to therapy and survival and multivariate analyses studies to define the independent significance of prognostic factors, including cytogenetic clonal evolution, in chronic and accelerated phases, were conducted as previously described.25,26,28 29 

A total of 498 patients were analyzed. These included 261 patients on the pivotal trial of chronic-phase CML (Novartis study 110, n = 149) or on the expanded access study for chronic-phase CML (Novartis study 113, n = 112) and 237 patients on the pivotal trial of accelerated-phase CML (Novartis study 109, n = 58) or on the expanded access study for accelerated-phase CML (Novartis 114, n = 179). Seventy patients had cytogenetic clonal evolution as the only criterion for accelerated-phase disease, whereas 51 patients had clonal evolution in addition to other accelerated-phase criteria. For the purpose of this study, the 70 patients with cytogenetic clonal evolution only, whether treated on the chronic-phase studies or on the accelerated-phase studies, were analyzed as one group. The characteristics of the study groups of interest, chronic phase, cytogenetic clonal evolution only, and accelerated phase with or without cytogenetic clonal evolution, are shown in Table2.

Table 2.

Characteristics of study groups

CharacteristicChronic, n (%)Clonal evolution
only, n (%)
Accelerated, no
clonal evolution, n (%)
Accelerated +
clonal evolution, n (%)
Total 295 70 82 51  
Age, 60 y or older 108 (37) 14 (20) 25 (30) 17 (33) 
Splenomegaly present 55/293 (19) 17 (24) 37 (45) 27 (53) 
Hemoglobin, 10 g/dL or greater 266 (90) 60 (86) 47 (57) 24 (47)  
White blood cell count, 50 × 109/L or greater 48 (16) 9 (13) 18 (22) 10 (20)  
Peripheral blasts, 5% or more 11 (4) 2 (3) 22 (27) 19 (38) 
Marrow blasts, 5% or more 42 (14) 11 (16) 38 (47) 36 (71)  
Peripheral basophils, 7% or more 40 (14) 7 (10) 36 (44) 22 (43) 
Marrow basophils, 5% or more 47 (16) 14 (19) 43 (53) 29 (57)  
Platelets, more than 450 × 109/L 71 (24) 10 (14) 29 (35) 13 (25) 
Ph at start of therapy greater than 90% 213/290 (73) 56 (80) 72/80 (90) 45/50 (90) 
CML duration     
 12-35 mo 110 (37) 26 (37) 19 (23) 18 (35)  
 36 mo or longer 142 (48) 34 (49) 37 (45) 23 (45) 
CharacteristicChronic, n (%)Clonal evolution
only, n (%)
Accelerated, no
clonal evolution, n (%)
Accelerated +
clonal evolution, n (%)
Total 295 70 82 51  
Age, 60 y or older 108 (37) 14 (20) 25 (30) 17 (33) 
Splenomegaly present 55/293 (19) 17 (24) 37 (45) 27 (53) 
Hemoglobin, 10 g/dL or greater 266 (90) 60 (86) 47 (57) 24 (47)  
White blood cell count, 50 × 109/L or greater 48 (16) 9 (13) 18 (22) 10 (20)  
Peripheral blasts, 5% or more 11 (4) 2 (3) 22 (27) 19 (38) 
Marrow blasts, 5% or more 42 (14) 11 (16) 38 (47) 36 (71)  
Peripheral basophils, 7% or more 40 (14) 7 (10) 36 (44) 22 (43) 
Marrow basophils, 5% or more 47 (16) 14 (19) 43 (53) 29 (57)  
Platelets, more than 450 × 109/L 71 (24) 10 (14) 29 (35) 13 (25) 
Ph at start of therapy greater than 90% 213/290 (73) 56 (80) 72/80 (90) 45/50 (90) 
CML duration     
 12-35 mo 110 (37) 26 (37) 19 (23) 18 (35)  
 36 mo or longer 142 (48) 34 (49) 37 (45) 23 (45) 

The median follow-up time for patients on these studies was 20 months (range, 4-33 months). Response in each of the study groups is shown in Table 3. Survival of patients in the 4 groups is shown in Figure 1.

Table 3.

Response to imatinib mesylate therapy by CML phase

ChronicClonal evolutionAccelerated, no clonal evolutionAccelerated + clonal evolution
Total/active disease 295/179 70/45 82 51 
CHR, n (%) 163 (91) 39 (87) 67 (82) 37 (73) 
Cytogenetic response, n (%) 209 (71) 42 (60) 41 (50) 21 (41) 
 Complete 158 (54) 31 (44) 28 (34) 13 (25) 
 Partial 35 (12) 7 (10) 5 (6) 4 (8) 
 Minor 16 (5) 4 (6) 8 (10) 4 (8)  
Partial hematologic response 
Resistant + inevaluable 7 + 4 1 + 2 3 + 4 9 + 1 
ChronicClonal evolutionAccelerated, no clonal evolutionAccelerated + clonal evolution
Total/active disease 295/179 70/45 82 51 
CHR, n (%) 163 (91) 39 (87) 67 (82) 37 (73) 
Cytogenetic response, n (%) 209 (71) 42 (60) 41 (50) 21 (41) 
 Complete 158 (54) 31 (44) 28 (34) 13 (25) 
 Partial 35 (12) 7 (10) 5 (6) 4 (8) 
 Minor 16 (5) 4 (6) 8 (10) 4 (8)  
Partial hematologic response 
Resistant + inevaluable 7 + 4 1 + 2 3 + 4 9 + 1 
Fig. 1.

Survival of patients in chronic phase, with cytogenetic clonal evolution only, and in accelerated phase with or without cytogenetic clonal evolution.

Fig. 1.

Survival of patients in chronic phase, with cytogenetic clonal evolution only, and in accelerated phase with or without cytogenetic clonal evolution.

Close modal

Because cytogenetic clonal evolution may have different prognostic implications by whether or not there are other accelerated-phase criteria, we conducted subsequent analyses in 2 subsets: (1) the subset of patients in chronic phase CML with or without cytogenetic clonal evolution (groups 1 and 2) and (2) the subset of patients with accelerated phase CML with or without cytogenetic clonal evolution (groups 3 and 4).

Significance of cytogenetic clonal evolution in chronic phase CML

In this analysis, 365 patients were reviewed, including 70 patients with cytogenetic clonal evolution. Among 224 patients with active disease (ie, not in CHR at the time of study entry), the CHR rate was 90%. Of the 365 patients treated, 251 (69%) achieved a cytogenetic response, including 189 (52%) with a complete response and 42 (12%) with a partial cytogenetic response. Significant poor prognostic factors for achieving a major cytogenetic response are shown in Table 4 and did not include the presence of cytogenetic clonal evolution. A multivariate analysis identified the following to have independent poor prognostic factors for achieving a major cytogenetic response: higher marrow blast percentage (P = .004), longer time from diagnosis to therapy (P = .02), higher percentage of Ph-positive cells at start of therapy (P = .0008), and prior IFN-α response (hematologic resistance) (P = .05). Patients with none or 1, 2, 3, or all 4 factors had expected major cytogenetic response rates of 92%, 60%, 33%, and 7%, respectively (Table5). A repeat multivariate analysis of factors predictive of complete instead of major cytogenetic response yielded similar results (data not shown).

Table 4.

Prognostic factors associated with major cytogenetic response and with survival in chronic phase ± clonal evolution (N = 365)

ParameternMajor cytogenetic
response, n (%)
PSurvival at
2 y, %
P
Age      
 Younger than 60 y 243 163 (67) .04 90 .6 
 60 y or older 122 68 (56)  89  
Splenomegaly, cm bcm      
 None 291 203 (70) < .0001 94 .0006 
 1-9 29 12 (41)  74  
 10 or greater 43 15 (35)  62  
Hemoglobin      
 Less than 10 g/dL 39 15 (38) .001 75 .0004  
 10 g/dL or more 326 216 (66)  92  
Platelets      
 450 × 109/L or less 284 194 (68) .0003 91 .2 
 More than 450 × 109/L 81 37 (46)  85  
Peripheral blasts      
 None 271 198 (73) < .0001 96 < .0001 
 Any percentage 94 33 (35)  72  
Marrow blasts      
 Less than 5% 312 220 (71) < .0001 95 < .0001  
 5% or more 53 11 (21)  61  
Peripheral basophils      
 Less than 7% 318 214 (67) < .0001 91 .2  
 7% or more 47 17 (36)  81  
Marrow basophils      
 Less than 5% 304 207 (68) < .0001 92 .05  
 5% or more 61 24 (39)  78  
WBCs      
 Less than 10 × 109/L 177 134 (76)  94  
 10-49 × 109/L 131 72 (55) < .0001 85 .2  
 50 × 109/L or more 57 25 (44)  87  
Sokal risk group      
 Good 73 60 (82)  97  
 Intermediate 70 42 (60) .01 94 .2 
 Poor 21 15 (71)  81  
Cytogenetic clonal
evolution 
     
 No 295 193 (65) .1 92 .002 
 Yes 70 38 (54)  77  
CML duration      
 Shorter than 12 mo 53 43 (81)  96  
 12-35 mo 136 91 (67) .001 93 .02  
 36 mo or longer 176 97 (55)  85  
Ph+ at start of therapy      
 Less than 90% 91 83 (91) < .0001 96 .08  
 90% or more 269 146 (54)  89  
Disease group prior to IFN
treatment 
     
 Hematologic resistant 30 10 (33)  84  
 Hematologic refractory 22 9 (41)  81  
 CG resistant 94 59 (63) < .0001 93 .06  
 CG refractory 61 53 (87)  96  
 IFN-α intolerant 131 83 (63)  89  
ParameternMajor cytogenetic
response, n (%)
PSurvival at
2 y, %
P
Age      
 Younger than 60 y 243 163 (67) .04 90 .6 
 60 y or older 122 68 (56)  89  
Splenomegaly, cm bcm      
 None 291 203 (70) < .0001 94 .0006 
 1-9 29 12 (41)  74  
 10 or greater 43 15 (35)  62  
Hemoglobin      
 Less than 10 g/dL 39 15 (38) .001 75 .0004  
 10 g/dL or more 326 216 (66)  92  
Platelets      
 450 × 109/L or less 284 194 (68) .0003 91 .2 
 More than 450 × 109/L 81 37 (46)  85  
Peripheral blasts      
 None 271 198 (73) < .0001 96 < .0001 
 Any percentage 94 33 (35)  72  
Marrow blasts      
 Less than 5% 312 220 (71) < .0001 95 < .0001  
 5% or more 53 11 (21)  61  
Peripheral basophils      
 Less than 7% 318 214 (67) < .0001 91 .2  
 7% or more 47 17 (36)  81  
Marrow basophils      
 Less than 5% 304 207 (68) < .0001 92 .05  
 5% or more 61 24 (39)  78  
WBCs      
 Less than 10 × 109/L 177 134 (76)  94  
 10-49 × 109/L 131 72 (55) < .0001 85 .2  
 50 × 109/L or more 57 25 (44)  87  
Sokal risk group      
 Good 73 60 (82)  97  
 Intermediate 70 42 (60) .01 94 .2 
 Poor 21 15 (71)  81  
Cytogenetic clonal
evolution 
     
 No 295 193 (65) .1 92 .002 
 Yes 70 38 (54)  77  
CML duration      
 Shorter than 12 mo 53 43 (81)  96  
 12-35 mo 136 91 (67) .001 93 .02  
 36 mo or longer 176 97 (55)  85  
Ph+ at start of therapy      
 Less than 90% 91 83 (91) < .0001 96 .08  
 90% or more 269 146 (54)  89  
Disease group prior to IFN
treatment 
     
 Hematologic resistant 30 10 (33)  84  
 Hematologic refractory 22 9 (41)  81  
 CG resistant 94 59 (63) < .0001 93 .06  
 CG refractory 61 53 (87)  96  
 IFN-α intolerant 131 83 (63)  89  

bcm indicates below coastal margin.

Table 5.

Expected major cytogenetic response rate by the presence or absence of poor prognostic factors

Prognostic factorsnMajor cytogenetic response, n (%)
Chronic phase CML5-150   
 0-1 102 94 (92) 
 2 167 100 (60)  
 3 51 17 (33) 
 4 14 1 (7)  
Accelerated phase CML5-151   
 0 50 31 (62)  
 1 64 18 (28) 
 2 19 1 (5) 
Prognostic factorsnMajor cytogenetic response, n (%)
Chronic phase CML5-150   
 0-1 102 94 (92) 
 2 167 100 (60)  
 3 51 17 (33) 
 4 14 1 (7)  
Accelerated phase CML5-151   
 0 50 31 (62)  
 1 64 18 (28) 
 2 19 1 (5) 
F5-150

Poor prognostic factors were marrow blast 5% or more, duration of CML 1 year or longer, percentage of Ph+ at start of therapy greater than 90%, and prior IFN-α response (hematologic resistance–refractory).

F5-151

Poor prognostic factors were splenomegaly 10 cm or more, below coastal margin, longer duration of CML disease more than 3 years.

Significant poor prognostic factors for worse survival are also shown in Table 4. A multivariate analysis identified the following to remain as independent poor prognostic factors for survival: any peripheral blasts present (P = .02), cytogenetic clonal evolution (P = .03), and leukocytosis (P = .04). Survival by cytogenetic response at 3 months is shown in Figure2. We then conducted a multivariate analysis of independent factors for survival among patients on study at 3 months and included response to imatinib mesylate at 3 months as a variable. This analysis showed the following factors to be independently associated with worse survival (P<.05): (1) no major cytogenetic response at 3 months, (2) anemia (hemoglobin < 10 g/dL), (3) high percentage of Ph-positive cells at diagnosis, (4) any peripheral blasts, (5) thrombocytosis, (6) leukocytosis, and (7) prior IFN-α response. This analysis suggested that the 3-month response to imatinib mesylate therapy was a stronger independent predictor for survival than clonal evolution at diagnosis.

Fig. 2.

Survival from 3 months into therapy by cytogenetic response at 3 months of patients in chronic-phase CML with or without cytogenetic clonal evolution.

Fig. 2.

Survival from 3 months into therapy by cytogenetic response at 3 months of patients in chronic-phase CML with or without cytogenetic clonal evolution.

Close modal

Significance of cytogenetic clonal evolution in accelerated phase CML

The 133 patients with accelerated phase CML were evaluated; 51 had clonal evolution in addition to other accelerated phase CML features. Significant poor prognostic factors for achieving major cytogenetic response are shown in Table 6 and did not include clonal evolution. A multivariate analysis selected the following as independent adverse prognostic features: splenomegaly 10 cm or greater below the costal margin (P = .01), and longer time from diagnosis to therapy (> 3 years;P = .06). The major cytogenetic response rates by whether patients had none, 1, or 2 of these factors were 62%, 28%, and 5%, respectively (Table 5). A repeated multivariate analysis of prognostic factors predictive of complete rather than major cytogenetic response showed splenomegaly (P = .02) and presence of peripheral blasts (P = .02) (instead of diagnosis to therapy time 3 years or longer) to be independent predictors for achieving complete cytogenetic response. The inclusion of the daily dose of imatinib (400 mg versus 600 mg) did not identify it as an independent poor prognostic factor for cytogenetic response.

Table 6.

Prognostic factors associated with major cytogenetic response and with survival in accelerated phase ± clonal evolution (N = 133)

ParameternMajor cytogenetic response, n (%)PSurvival at 2 y, %P
Age      
 Younger than 60 y 91 39 (43)  .08 67 .1 
 60 y or older 42 11 (26)  48  
Splenomegaly, cm bcm      
 None 69 37 (54)  70  
 1-9 22 9 (41) < .0001 69 .08 
 10 or greater 42 4 (10)  44  
Hemoglobin      
 Less than 10 g/dL 62 18 (29)  .08 50 .05  
 10 g/dL or more 71 32 (45)  72  
Platelets      
 Less than 100 × 109/L 53 22 (42)  49  
 100-450 × 109/L 38 14 (37)  .7 68 .08 
 Greater than 450 × 109/L 42 14 (33)  71  
Peripheral blasts      
 None 46 30 (65) < .0001 72 .2 
 Any percentage 87 20 (23)  57  
Marrow blasts      
 Less than 5% 59 35 (59) < .0001 68 .2  
 5% or more 74 15 (20)  57  
Peripheral basophils      
 Less than 7% 75 32 (43)  .2 56 .3  
 7% or more 58 18 (31)  68  
Marrow basophils      
 Less than 5% 61 26 (43)  .4 58 .9  
 5% or more 72 24 (33)  64  
WBCs      
 Less than 10 × 109/L 44 23 (52)  62  
 10-49 × 109/L 61 21 (34)  .02 60 1.0 
 50 × 109/L or greater 28 6 (21)  62  
Sokal risk group      
 Good 21 9 (43)  77  
 Intermediate 18 9 (50)  .4 70 .07 
 Poor 20 6 (30)  41  
Cytogenetic clonal evolution      
 No 82 33 (40)  .5 71 .002 
 Yes 51 17 (33)  46  
CML duration      
 Shorter than 12 mo 36 21 (58)  69  
 12-35 mo 37 13 (35)  .008 58 .1  
 36 mo or longer 60 16 (27)  59  
Ph at start of therapy      
 90% or less 13 10 (77)  .004 54 .7  
 More than 90% 117 39 (33)  62  
ParameternMajor cytogenetic response, n (%)PSurvival at 2 y, %P
Age      
 Younger than 60 y 91 39 (43)  .08 67 .1 
 60 y or older 42 11 (26)  48  
Splenomegaly, cm bcm      
 None 69 37 (54)  70  
 1-9 22 9 (41) < .0001 69 .08 
 10 or greater 42 4 (10)  44  
Hemoglobin      
 Less than 10 g/dL 62 18 (29)  .08 50 .05  
 10 g/dL or more 71 32 (45)  72  
Platelets      
 Less than 100 × 109/L 53 22 (42)  49  
 100-450 × 109/L 38 14 (37)  .7 68 .08 
 Greater than 450 × 109/L 42 14 (33)  71  
Peripheral blasts      
 None 46 30 (65) < .0001 72 .2 
 Any percentage 87 20 (23)  57  
Marrow blasts      
 Less than 5% 59 35 (59) < .0001 68 .2  
 5% or more 74 15 (20)  57  
Peripheral basophils      
 Less than 7% 75 32 (43)  .2 56 .3  
 7% or more 58 18 (31)  68  
Marrow basophils      
 Less than 5% 61 26 (43)  .4 58 .9  
 5% or more 72 24 (33)  64  
WBCs      
 Less than 10 × 109/L 44 23 (52)  62  
 10-49 × 109/L 61 21 (34)  .02 60 1.0 
 50 × 109/L or greater 28 6 (21)  62  
Sokal risk group      
 Good 21 9 (43)  77  
 Intermediate 18 9 (50)  .4 70 .07 
 Poor 20 6 (30)  41  
Cytogenetic clonal evolution      
 No 82 33 (40)  .5 71 .002 
 Yes 51 17 (33)  46  
CML duration      
 Shorter than 12 mo 36 21 (58)  69  
 12-35 mo 37 13 (35)  .008 58 .1  
 36 mo or longer 60 16 (27)  59  
Ph at start of therapy      
 90% or less 13 10 (77)  .004 54 .7  
 More than 90% 117 39 (33)  62  

bcm indicates below coastal margin.

Poor prognostic factors for survival are also listed in Table 6. A multivariate analysis identified the following as independent poor prognostic factors for survival: older age (P = .01), higher percentage of marrow basophils (P = .03), and cytogenetic clonal evolution (P = .03). Survival by response at 3 months is shown in Figure3. A multivariate analysis of factors independently associated with survival among patients on study at 3 months, including 3-month response as a variable identified the following adverse prognostic factors: lack of any cytogenetic response at 3 months (P = .002), older age (P = .02), high percentage of Ph-positive cells at diagnosis (P = .04), clonal evolution (P = .06), and lower imatinib mesylate dose (400 versus 600 mg daily;P = .07). As with patients in chronic phase, this analysis suggested that the 3-month response to imatinib mesylate therapy was a stronger independent predictor for survival than clonal evolution at diagnosis of accelerated phase.

Fig. 3.

Survival from 3 months into therapy by cytogenetic response at 3 months of patients in accelerated-phase CML with or without cytogenetic clonal evolution.

Fig. 3.

Survival from 3 months into therapy by cytogenetic response at 3 months of patients in accelerated-phase CML with or without cytogenetic clonal evolution.

Close modal

Thus, cytogenetic clonal evolution was not an independent significant factor for achieving a major or complete cytogenetic response, but it remained a poor independent prognostic factor for survival in the setting of both chronic and accelerated phases of CML. However, response to imatinib mesylate after 3 months of therapy was also a strong predictor for survival in both chronic and accelerated phase, and it was more important than clonal evolution as an independent prognostic factor.

Response to imatinib therapy by characteristics of clonal evolution

In a previous study, the characteristics of the cytogenetic clonal evolution (chromosome 17 abnormality, associated accelerated-phase criteria, time of clonal evolution, frequency in metaphase analysis)38 39 were associated with different outcomes. We thus analyzed whether these previously identified clonal evolution characteristics were associated with different cytogenetic response profiles (Table 7). As shown, the presence of isochromosome 17, the presence of other accelerated-phase criteria, the later development of clonal evolution, and its predominance in metaphase analysis were all associated with lower rates of complete and major cytogenetic responses. This was statistically significant for the first 2 characteristics. Interestingly, the presence of trisomy 8 was associated with a relatively high cytogenetic response rate.

Table 7.

Response to imatinib therapy by the characteristics of the cytogenetic clonal evolution (N = 121)

Characteristicn7-150Cytogenetic response, n (%)P7-151
CompleteMajor
Chromosomal abnormality     
 Double Ph ± trisomy 8 ± other 23 8 (35) 9 (39)  
 Isochromosome 17 ± trisomy 8 ± other 12 2 (17) 4 (33)  
 Trisomy 8 ± other 13 11 (85) 11 (85)  
 Other translocations ± other 34 10 (29) 13 (38) .004 
 Other 39 15 (38) 20 (51)  
Presence of other accelerated-phase features     
 No 68 31 (46) 38 (56) .05 
 Yes 50 13 (26) 17 (34)  
Time to clonal evolution     
 Shorter than 12 mo 37 18 (49) 22 (59) .09  
 12-23 mo 24 6 (25) 8 (33)  
 24 mo or longer 51 15 (29) 20 (39)  
Abnormal metaphases     
 Less than 16% 21 10 (48) 14 (67) .4 
 16%-49% 22 9 (41) 11 (50)  
 50% or greater 75 25 (33) 30 (40)  
Characteristicn7-150Cytogenetic response, n (%)P7-151
CompleteMajor
Chromosomal abnormality     
 Double Ph ± trisomy 8 ± other 23 8 (35) 9 (39)  
 Isochromosome 17 ± trisomy 8 ± other 12 2 (17) 4 (33)  
 Trisomy 8 ± other 13 11 (85) 11 (85)  
 Other translocations ± other 34 10 (29) 13 (38) .004 
 Other 39 15 (38) 20 (51)  
Presence of other accelerated-phase features     
 No 68 31 (46) 38 (56) .05 
 Yes 50 13 (26) 17 (34)  
Time to clonal evolution     
 Shorter than 12 mo 37 18 (49) 22 (59) .09  
 12-23 mo 24 6 (25) 8 (33)  
 24 mo or longer 51 15 (29) 20 (39)  
Abnormal metaphases     
 Less than 16% 21 10 (48) 14 (67) .4 
 16%-49% 22 9 (41) 11 (50)  
 50% or greater 75 25 (33) 30 (40)  
F7-150

In some patients, the characteristics could not be determined, resulting in a smaller number of patients than in the denominator.

F7-151

Value for complete cytogenetic response rates.

Development of new chromosomal abnormalities on therapy

In our study, 32 patients of a total of 377 patients without clonal evolution at the start of therapy developed later additional chromosomal abnormalities, including trisomy 8 (n = 16), chromosome 5 or 7 abnormalities (n = 8), and others (n = 8). Fifteen of the 32 cases occurred in patients with cytogenetic response, in the Ph-positive cells (n = 12), or in the diploid cells (n = 3). Six of the 15 cases were transient clonal evolutions, whereas none of the 17 cases occurring in patients without cytogenetic response was transient. Among 44 patients with clonal evolution at the start of therapy who later achieved complete cytogenetic response, 9 developed clonal evolution. Only 1 of the 9 cases was a transient clone, whereas the other 8 have so far persisted (Table8).

Table 8.

Emergence of new chromosomal abnormalities in patients without clonal evolution at the start of therapy (N = 377)

Response to therapynNo. of new
chromosomal abnormalities
Transient
Complete cytogenetic response 186 3  
Partial cytogenetic response 40 1  
Minor cytogenetic response 24 
Other 127 17 0  
Total 377 32 
Response to therapynNo. of new
chromosomal abnormalities
Transient
Complete cytogenetic response 186 3  
Partial cytogenetic response 40 1  
Minor cytogenetic response 24 
Other 127 17 0  
Total 377 32 

The development of new chromosomal abnormalities in these patients has so far not predicted for a worse outcome, but the follow-up period is short (data not shown).

In this analysis, we identified cytogenetic clonal evolution to be an independent prognostic factor for survival in both chronic and accelerated phases of CML on imatinib mesylate therapy, even though it did not affect independently the achievement of major or complete cytogenetic response. This finding suggested that clonal evolution as a single feature of CML progression resulted in a worse outcome with imatinib mesylate therapy, perhaps because of its relative independence from the Ph-related molecular events, despite it not affecting the rates of major and complete cytogenetic response. An interesting question is whether the initial response to imatinib mesylate therapy becomes a more important predictor for survival than clonal evolution at diagnosis. By analyzing patients evaluable at 3 months of therapy, it appeared that lack of a cytogenetic response (major cytogenetic response versus other in chronic phase; any cytogenetic response versus other in accelerated phase) was a stronger independent poor prognostic factor for survival than cytogenetic clonal evolution at the start of therapy.

O'Dwyer et al41 analyzed the outcome of 71 patients with Ph-positive CML treated with imatinib mesylate 600 mg orally daily: 15 patients had chronic-phase CML with clonal evolution, 32 had accelerated phase without clonal evolution, 24 patients had accelerated-phase CML and clonal evolution. The major cytogenetic response rates were 73%, 31%, and 12.5%, respectively (P < .01). The complete cytogenetic response rates were 60%, 31%, and 8% respectively (P < .01). With a mean follow-up of 11 months, the 1-year survival rates were 100%, 85%, and 67.5%, respectively (P = .01). The researchers concluded that good prognosis was still possible if cytogenetic clonal evolution was the only criterion of accelerated phase, whereas clonal evolution with other accelerated features predicted for the worst outcome. Our results confirm some of the findings of O'Dwyer et al41and provide additional insights with more detailed (multivariate) analysis of a larger number of patients (n = 498 versus 71 patients) with a longer follow-up (median of 30 months versus mean of 11 months), and a comparison to patients with chronic-phase CML. Unlike the results of O'Dwyer et al,41 our study did not identify clonal evolution to be associated with a significant difference in major or complete cytogenetic response rates within specific CML phases (ie, chronic ± clonal evolution, accelerated ± clonal evolution). However, clonal evolution was still independently associated with worse survival in both chronic and accelerated phase, independent of other prognostic factors. In addition, we found initial cytogenetic response to imatinib mesylate after 3 months of therapy to be also a strong independent predictor of survival outcome in these patients.

An important question is whether, despite the worse prognosis with clonal evolution in chronic- and accelerated-phase CML, imatinib mesylate therapy still offers improved outcome compared with IFN therapy. This outcome could not be proven definitely because of the design of this single-arm study. An ongoing randomized study of imatinib mesylate versus IFN plus cytarabine in patients with CML in chronic phase has demonstrated significantly better rates of major and complete cytogenetic responses, slower time to transformation, and less toxicity with imatinib mesylate.42 Comparison of the survival results from this study to our historical experience suggested a significant reduction in the yearly mortality incidence, expected to range from 15% to 30% in chronic-phase CML after interferon failure and from 30% to 40% in accelerated-phase CML.

The development of additional chromosomal abnormalities in patients on imatinib therapy, whether they achieved a cytogenetic response or not, has been observed in both the Ph-positive clones and in the emerging diploid cells. These chromosomal abnormalities could be the same original clonal evolution or new additional chromosomal abnormalities involving chromosome 17, trisomy 8, chromosome 5 or 7 abnormalities, or others.43-45 These new chromosomal abnormalities may be transient and disappear with continued therapy, particularly in patients who had achieved a complete cytogenetic response; may persist in a small percentage of metaphases; or may become predominant in most metaphases. The significance of this finding is yet unknown, but it is reminiscent of the experience with IFN-α therapy36-39 and has not yet predicted for a worse outcome with the present follow-up.43 This finding may be a manifestation of a “fragile” primitive stem cell that is susceptible to the development of both (1) Ph-positive CML disease and (2) additional chromosomal abnormalities that are now “unmasked” by the rapid suppression of the Ph-positive cells with imatinib therapy. However, unlike the experience in other myeloid leukemias, these unmasked additional chromosomal abnormalities may or may not persist and may not have the same adverse implications as in other conditions. Their prognostic significance cannot at present be anticipated and should await maturation of the current experience with imatinib therapy.

In summary, in the era of imatinib therapy for CML, cytogenetic clonal evolution was still associated with an adverse survival in patients with chronic and accelerated phases of CML. These results should be considered in the selection of particular therapies of such patients, in relation to dose escalation of imatinib mesylate, imatinib mesylate combination regimens, investigational strategies, and the choice and timing of allogeneic SCT.

Prepublished online as Blood First Edition Paper, January 30, 2003; DOI 10.1182/ blood-2002-09-2790.

J.E.C. is a Clinical Research Scholar for The Leukemia and Lymphoma Society.

The publication costs of this article were defrayed in part by page charge payment. Therefore, and solely to indicate this fact, this article is hereby marked “advertisement” in accordance with 18 U.S.C. section 1734.

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Author notes

Jorge E. Cortes, Department of Leukemia, Box 428, The University of Texas M. D. Anderson Cancer Center, 1515 Holcombe Blvd, Houston, TX 77030; e-mail:[email protected].

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