A trial looking at different ways of giving imatinib to people with CML (GIMI)

This trial looked at whether varying how imatinib (Glivec) is taken, or adding a drug called G-CSF, improves treatment outcome for chronic myeloid leukaemia (CML).

Most people with chronic myeloid leukaemia have an abnormal chromosome called the Philadelphia chromosome. This is called Philadelphia positive CML.

Doctors usually treat people with Philadelphia positive CML with a biological therapy called imatinib. But although many people respond well to imatinib, they may have a small number of CML cells left in their body after treatment. These cells are sometimes described as ‘sleeping’ CML cells.

Doctors hoped that by giving imatinib in a different way, or in combination with a growth factor called G-CSF, they may be able to kill the remaining CML cells.

The aims of this trial were to find out

• How well imatinib works when it is given in a different way and with G-CSF

• More about the side effects of giving imatinib and G-CSF together