Safety and efficacy of nilotinib after 10 years of interferon

Abstract

Here we describe a case of a woman with chronic myeloid leukemia at high risk, according to the Sokal Index. The patient started interferon alfa-2b (IFN) at standard dose obtaining a major molecular response after about four years of treatment. After about 10 years the patient presented a toxicity from IFN and different comorbidities, so she was switched to nilotinib and achieved a complete molecular response (MR4). This case shows how nilotinib is effective and tolerable also in patients with multiple comorbidities. Keywords: Chronic myeloid leukemia; Optimal response; Nilotinib; Interferon alfa-2b