10-year complete remission in a Philadelphia chromosome-positive acute lymphoblastic leukemia patient using imatinib without high-intensity chemotherapy or allogeneic stem cell transplantation

The outcome of Philadelphia chromosome-positive acute lymphoblastic leukemia (Ph-ALL) has improved with the use of tyrosine kinase inhibitors, such as imatinib and dasatinib. We report a 63-year-old woman with Ph-ALL who maintained complete remission for 10 years using imatinib without high-intensity chemotherapy or allogeneic stem cell transplantation. She underwent induction therapy with imatinib plus prednisolone and achieved complete remission by day 53. Imatinib was continued until 103 months, when it was stopped in response to renal dysfunction; however, the patient continued to exhibit molecular remission at 120 months. This is the first report in the literature describing a patient with Ph-ALL who achieved remission for more than 10 years after treatment only with imatinib.