Key clinical point: Adjuvant therapy with interferon- a+sargramostim (IFN) vs. K562/granulocyte macrophage-colony stimulating factor (GM-CSF) vaccine led to better molecular responses with sustained treatment-free remission (TFR) in tyrosine kinase inhibitor (TKI)-treated patients with chronic-phase chronic myeloid leukemia (CML-CP).
Major finding: Patients receiving IFN vs. K562/GM-CSF vaccine had a higher rate of undetectable minimal residual disease at 1 year (47.4%; 95% CI 16.7%-66.7% vs. 25%; 95% CI 0.5%-43.5%). TFR was maintained by 36.6% vs. 0.0% of patients receiving IFN vs. K562/GM-CSF vaccine. Treatment discontinuation because of side effects was higher in IFN-treated patients.
Study details: Findings are from a phase 2 trial including 34 adult patients with CML-CP receiving stable dosing of frontline TKI therapy for ≥1 year with a complete cytogenic response who were randomly assigned to IFN or K562/GM-CSF vaccine.
Disclosures: This study was supported by grants from US National Institute of Health. The authors declared no conflict of interests.
Source: Webster JA et al. Leuk Res. 2021;111:106737 (Nov 2). Doi: 10.1016/j.leukres.2021.106737.