You are here

Frequency of PCR testing

Categories:

I have been taking 300mgs imatinib since June 2017 and have been at MR4 /4.5 since Feb 2016. I am aiming to be treatment free in 2019 but my haem. has suggested that, to avoid any withdrawal which may happen, I should go to 200mgs from January first.

My question is how often should PCR testing take place on 200mgs? I am in the usual 3 months testing on 300mgs and I know, once I stop completely, testing should take place every month for the first 6 months. When on DESTINY in 2014-15 at 200mgs I was tested every month ( and lost MMR in Month 12 so never tried treatment free). However, in terms of progress in CML treatment, that was some time ago.

Would be interested to hear how often PCR testing is done from others on half dose TKIs.

Thanks,

Best to all

Chrissie

Hi Chrissie,

It's not any official policy, but my doctor and I agreed for 6 weekly tests at the moment while I'm reducing dose. We both felt that it would be good to have more data points to make decisions on about further reductions rather than a safety issue, though that was of course a small part of it. 

David. 

I did three dose reductions (from 600 - 450 - 300 -150mg/day Tasigna) over a 6 month period in 2017.  I was tested every 6 weeks during this entire period plus 2 more 6 weekly tests after my last reduction.  So essentially I was tested every 6 weeks for 9 months.  During this entire testing period, I maintained <.003%, so thereafter I went to every 3 months for the next 2 tests.  Both of these also maintained <.003%, so I am now on testing every 6 months.

Hi Chrissie,

For what it's worth, most of my PCR tests have been at 3 month intervals.

Gleevec 400mg/day  -  2014  000.174%, 000.088%, 000.064%  2015  000.049%

Gleevec 200mg/day  -  000.035%, 000.061%, 000.028%  2016  000.041%, 000.039%, 000.025%  2017  000.029%, 000.039%

generic imatinib 200mg/day  -  000.070%, 000.088%  2018  000.233%

 

I like to see zeroes in my PCR numbers. laugh

Kirk

Thanks David. 6 weeks seems a sensible period in between or even 2 months. Not too happy leaving it at 3 months but, providing my hospital are prepared to pay for more frequent PCR testing, and my haem thinks they will be OK with that, he will leave it up to me to decide how often!

best

Chrissie

Thanks, another one at 6 weeks.

Best

Chrissie

Thanks, looking good for you

Best

Chrissie