Prognostic factors in chronic myeloid leukemia. Relationship with interferon and bone marrow transplantation. The Italian Cooperative Study Group on Chronic Myeloid Leukemia.

To evaluate the prognostic features of Ph+ CML patients treated by allogeneic BMT or by IFN, we reviewed the data of 50 consecutive pts who were transplanted between 1984 and 1988 and of 180 consecutive patients who were assigned to continuous IFN treatment between 1986 and 1988. In the BMT group, Sokal's system predicted survival (transplant-associated mortality). In the IFN group, Sokal's system, platelet count, and peripheral blood blast cell percentage predicted karyotypic response. In this group, survival was related more significantly with blast cell than with Sokal's score. The strongest predictor of survival was karyotypic response to IFN, with a 4-year survival of 94% for responders vs. 56% for non-responders.