Correlation between genetic polymorphisms of the hOCT1 and MDR1 genes and the response to imatinib in patients newly diagnosed with chronic-phase chronic myeloid leukemia

The association between seven polymorphisms in the genes hOCT1 and MDR1, encoding for imatinib transporter proteins, and the response to imatinib 400 mg/daily was investigated in 65 patients newly diagnosed with chronic-phase chronic myeloid leukemia. The AA genotype at the rs6935207 hOCT1 polymorphic locus was not detected in patients with inadequate response to imatinib. The CC genotype at the rs1045642 (C3435T) MDR1 locus was associated with primary failure, whereas a T allele at the rs2032582 (G2677T/A) MDR1 locus seemed to protect from primary failure. Beside, the MDR1 haplotype 1236T-2677G-3435C was more frequently found in patients primarily resistant to imatinib.