The efficacy of EPO in patients who initiated EPO treatment within the first 2 months of imatinib initiation, between 2 and 6 months and beyond was compared: no significant difference was observed between the three groups (p = 0,3, not shown), indicating that EPO is active also in patients who develop anaemia as a consequence of imatinib treatment,. The gene discussed is EPO; the disease is anemia (phenotype).