Abstract
Chronic myeloid leukemia (CML) is a demonstrative example of successful targeted therapy with tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKI). The overall survival of CML patients who respond to TKI is now considered very close to that of the healthy population control. Several clinical trials have demonstrated that some patients with CML in chronic phase who achieve sustained deep molecular responses on TKI therapy can safely suspend therapy and attempt a new goal treatment-free remission (TFR). The number of patients eligible for such goal has increased to the point where the issue of TFR has become of utmost importance even for drug companies. It should be considered the future criterion to evaluate the success of clinical trials, especially if we want to take into account quality of life of patients and also the economic aspect.
The question of cure in CML is now one of the major concerns and has to be considered in the management of the disease.
Parts of this chapter have formerly been published within the journal Annals of Hematology in Volume 94, Issue 2, supplement, April 2015, “Chronic Myeloid Leukemia,” doi:10.1007/s00277-015-2320-4.
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Mahon, FX., Saußele, S. (2016). Discontinuation or Cessation of Tyrosine Kinase Inhibitor Treatment in Chronic Myeloid Leukemia Patients with Deep Molecular Response. In: Hehlmann, R. (eds) Chronic Myeloid Leukemia. Hematologic Malignancies. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-33198-0_13
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