Imatinib compared with chemotherapy as front‐line treatment of elderly patients with Philadelphia chromosome‐positive acute lymphoblastic leukemia (Ph+ALL)

In elderly patients with de novo Ph+ALL, imatinib induction results in a significantly higher CR rate and lower toxicity than induction chemotherapy. With subsequent combined imatinib and chemotherapy consolidation, this initial benefit does not translate into improved survival compared with chemotherapy induction.