Trial to Evaluate the Improvement of Chronic Low-grade AEs in Patients With Ph+ CML With Optimal Response to Imatinib When Switched to Nilotinib

Inclusion criteria:

Male or female patients ≥ 18 years of age 2. ECOG ≤ 2 3. Diagnosis of CML-CP \< 15% blasts in peripheral blood and bone marrow

* \< 30% blasts plus promyelocytes in peripheral blood and bone marrow
* \< 20% basophiles in the peripheral blood
* ≥ 100 x 109 /L platelets
* No evidence of extramedullary leukemic involvement, with the exception of hepatosplenomegaly. 4. Minimal treatment duration before inclusion is 6 months. 5. Optimal response to imatinib at the time of inclusion according to LeukemiaNet 2009 criteria defined as:
* Patients treated with imatinib for ≥6 and \<12 months must be in MCR Patients treated with imatinib for ≥12 and \<18 months must be in CCR
* Patients treated with imatinib for ≥18 months must be in MMR (MMR response defined either as 3 log reduction of bcr-abl/abl ratio or as 0,1% by IS). 6. Initial treatment with 400mg imatinib with current treatment with imatinib 400 or 300 mg QD 7. Imatinib dose interruptions are allowed prior to inclusion but should not exceed 28 consecutive days 8. Persistent Grade 1- 2 non-hematological adverse events for at least 2 months despite best supportive care. Toxicity was to be evaluated by treating physician using CTCAE criteria. 9. In case of several types of non-hematological AEs no one can exceed grade 2 and at least one should last at least 2 months. 10. Adequate end organ function defined by:
* Total bilirubin \< 1.5 x ULN
* AST and ALT \< 2.5 x ULN
* Creatinine \< 1.5 x ULN
* Serum amylase and lipase ≤ 1.5x ULN
* Alkaline phosphatase ≤ 2.5 x ULN unless considered tumor related 11. Serum potassium, magnesium, phosphorus and calcium values within normal range or corrected to within normal limits with supplements prior to first dose of study medication. 12. Patients must have an imatinib washout period of at least 3 days and not to exceed 7 days prior to the first dose of nilotinib. 13. Ability to provide written informed consent prior to any study related screening procedures being done

Exclusion criteria:

1. Patients who have experienced any Grade 3 or higher non-hematologic toxicity 30 days prior to screening
2. Loss of response (hematologic, cytogenetic, molecular) any time prior to inclusion
3. Prior accelerated phase or blast phase CML
4. Previously documented T315I mutation
5. Chromosomal abnormalities (trisomy 8) and/or clonal evolution other than Ph+.
6. Previous treatment with imatinib \>400 mg any time prior to inclusion.
7. Previous treatment with any other tyrosine kinase inhibitors except for only imatinib

Impaired cardiac function including any of the following:

* LVEF \< 45% as determined by echocardiogram reading or MUGA
* Complete left bundle branch block
* Long QT syndrome or a known family history of long QT syndrome
* History or presence of clinically significant ventricular or atrial tachyarrhythmias
* Clinically significant resting bradycardia (\< 50 beats per minute)
* QTcF \> 450 msec on baseline ECG. If QTcF \> 450 and electrolytes are not within normal ranges, electrolytes were to be corrected and then the patient re-screened for QTcF
* Myocardial infarction within 1 year of starting study drug
* Other clinically significant heart disease (e.g., unstable angina, congestive heart failure, or uncontrolled hypertension) 9. Patients receiving therapy with inhibitors of CYP3A4 or medications that prolong the QT interval and cannot be either discontinued or switched to a different medication prior to starting study drug. 10. Treatment with strong CYP3A4 inducers (e.g. phenytoin, carbamazepine, rifampin, rifabutin, rifapentin, phenobarbital, St. John's Wort), that cannot be discontinued or switched to a different medication prior to starting study drug. 11. Impaired gastrointestinal (GI) function or GI disease that may significantly alter the absorption of study drug. 12. History of acute pancreatitis within 1 year of study entry. 13. Known cytopathologically confirmed CNS infiltration (in absence of suspicion of CNS involvement, lumbar puncture not required). 14. Any other malignancy that is clinically significant or requires active intervention.

  15\. Severe or uncontrolled medical conditions (i.e., uncontrolled diabetes, active or uncontrolled infection). 16. Acute or chronic liver or severe renal disease considered unrelated to cancer.

  17\. History of significant congenital or acquired bleeding disorder unrelated to cancer.

  18\. Previous radiotherapy to ≥ 25% of the bone marrow. 19. Major surgery within 4 weeks prior to Day 1 of study or patients who have not recovered from prior surgery. 20. Treatment with other investigational agents within 30 days of Day 1. 21. History of non-compliance to medical regimens or inability to grant consent 22. Women who are pregnant, breast feeding, or of childbearing potential without a negative urinary test at baseline