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Management of Chronic Myeloid Leukemia in Childhood

  • Chronic Myeloid Leukemia (J Goldman, Section Editor)
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Abstract

Childhood chronic myelogenous leukemia (CML) is a rare malignancy, and experience with optimal treatment is very limited. Traditionally, allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation was considered the only curative treatment. Imatinib, a small-molecule inhibitor of the BCR-ABL tyrosine kinase (TKI), has been proven highly successful in adults with CML, resulting in prolonged molecular response with limited drug toxicity. This drug is now included as front-line therapy for CML in pediatrics as well, though valid concerns about serious late sequelae remain unresolved. Specific pediatric treatment guidelines have not yet been formulated, and most algorithms are derived from experience in adult CML. This overview attempts to summarize pediatric studies on issues such as dose, duration, adverse effects, and steering criteria for TKI treatment, adapting guidelines developed in adult medicine to pediatrics. Most importantly, pediatric patients with CML receiving TKI treatment should be enrolled into formal trials.

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Disclosure

Conflicts of Interest: M. Suttorp: His institution has received grants from Bristol-Myers Squibb and Novartis, as well as travel expenses from Pfizer; L. Eckardt: none; J.T. Tauer: none; F. Millot: none.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Division of Pediatric Hematology and Oncology, University Children’s Hospital, Fetscherstr. 74, 01307, Dresden, Germany

    Meinolf Suttorp, Louise Eckardt & Josephine Tabea Tauer

  2. Department of Oncology, Hematology, and Cellular Therapy University Hospital, Poitiers, France

    Frederic Millot

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  1. Meinolf Suttorp
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  2. Louise Eckardt
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  3. Josephine Tabea Tauer
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  4. Frederic Millot
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Correspondence to Meinolf Suttorp.

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Suttorp, M., Eckardt, L., Tauer, J.T. et al. Management of Chronic Myeloid Leukemia in Childhood. Curr Hematol Malig Rep 7, 116–124 (2012). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11899-012-0113-6

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11899-012-0113-6

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