Effects of imatinib combined arsenic trioxide on Ph+ chronic myeloid leukemia patients lacking of ASS genes

Objective To observe the efficacy and adverse reactions of imatinib combined arsenic trioxide on Ph+ chronic myeloid leukemia (CML) patients lacking of ASS genes. Methods Ten Ph+ CML patients lacking of ASS genes who were hospitalized in Henan Cancer Hospital from June 2015 to June 2018 were selected. When BCR/ABL was more than 10% after 3 months of imatinib therapy, patients were given imatinib combined arsenic trioxide solution treatment, specific for: imatinib 400 mg, once a day, take orally, arsenic trioxide 10 mg, ivgtt, d1-5, d7-11, d14 -18. After 3 courses of treatment, the therapeutic effects were observed. Results BCR/ABL was less than 1% and ASS gene deletion disappeared completely in 6 cases of 10 patients 6 months after treatment; BCR/ABL 1% and ASS gene deletion positive appeared in 3 cases. Conclusions Imatinib combined with arsenic trioxide can improve ASS gene deletion in patients with Ph+ CML, of which adverse reactions are in control. Key words: Arsenic trioxide; Imatinib; Chronic myeloid leukemia; ASS gene