FIP1L1-PDGFRA in eosinophilic disorders: prevalence in routine clinical practice, long-term experience with imatinib therapy, and a critical review of the literature

Leuk Res. 2006 Aug;30(8):965-70. doi: 10.1016/j.leukres.2005.11.011. Epub 2006 Jan 6.

Abstract

We previously studied clinico-pathologic features of 89 consecutive adult patients with moderate-to-severe eosinophilia, and reported a FIP1L1-PDGFRA prevalence of 12%. In that series, all 11 FIP1L1-PDGFRA+ patients receiving imatinib achieved a complete response. We now extend our observations through a study of 741 unselected patients with eosinophilia for FIP1L1-PDGFRA, and present longer term follow up data for the imatinib-treated cohort. We also include data for three previously unreported FIP1L1-PDGFRA+ patients. Among the 741 requests, only 21 (3%) were found to carry the FIP1L1-PDGFRA mutation. While all 14 FIP1L1-PDGFRA+ patients receiving imatinib achieved a complete response, the 4 patients who attempted to discontinue imatinib all relapsed. We also find that it is possible to maintain patients in clinical remission with an empirically derived schedule of low-dose (50-100 mg), intermittent (once daily to once weekly) imatinib. Lastly, we present a comprehensive review of the literature pertaining to FIP1L1-PDGFRA in order to address several key aspects of this mutation from a clinical standpoint.

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Aged
  • Benzamides
  • Cohort Studies
  • Dose-Response Relationship, Drug
  • Drug Administration Schedule
  • Eosinophilia / drug therapy*
  • Eosinophilia / epidemiology*
  • Eosinophilia / genetics
  • Follow-Up Studies
  • Humans
  • Imatinib Mesylate
  • Male
  • Maximum Tolerated Dose
  • Middle Aged
  • Mutation
  • Oncogene Proteins, Fusion / genetics*
  • Piperazines / administration & dosage*
  • Prevalence
  • Pyrimidines / administration & dosage*
  • Receptor, Platelet-Derived Growth Factor alpha / genetics*
  • Recurrence
  • Remission Induction
  • Treatment Outcome
  • mRNA Cleavage and Polyadenylation Factors / genetics*

Substances

  • Benzamides
  • Oncogene Proteins, Fusion
  • Piperazines
  • Pyrimidines
  • mRNA Cleavage and Polyadenylation Factors
  • Imatinib Mesylate
  • FIP1L1-PDGFRA fusion protein, human
  • Receptor, Platelet-Derived Growth Factor alpha