I am not missing any point. I don't know what you are getting into. There is clinical improvement (CI) category listed in the criteria table, where those 3 patients mentioned in the abstract fell into, but pending validation of response duration and resolution of drug-induced grade-1 thrombocytopenia:
Clinical improvement (CI) The achievement of anemia, spleen or symptoms response without progressive disease or increase in severity of anemia, thrombocytopenia, or neutropenia§
But none of the 5 and 3 patients were up to two of CR definitions:
Platelet count =100 × 109/L and <UNL; <2% immature myeloid cells‡ and
Clinical: Resolution of disease symptoms; spleen and liver not palpable; no evidence of EMH
Thus it doesn't change the fact CR/PR listed in the abstract said clearly only two of those CR/PR criteria were met. I don't know why this is up to debate because no one said the response reported in abstract was not real. Again, believe whatever you want to.
Bone marrow:* Age-adjusted normocellularity; <5% blasts; =grade 1 MF† and
Peripheral blood: Hemoglobin =100 g/L and <UNL; neutrophil count = 1 × 109/L and <UNL;