In line with our results, Usuki et al has demonstrated in a small cohort of CML patients (n = 9) that patients who were able to stay in remission after imatinib discontinuation had increased amount of CD45RO+ memory CD8+ cells when compared to healthy volunteers or relapsing patients [29]. This evidence concerns the gene CD8A and chronic myelogenous leukemia, BCR-ABL1 positive.