Therapeutic Challenges in Chronic Myeloid Leukemia: A Case-Based Discussion

Abstract

Chronic myeloid leukemia (CML) is a myeloproliferative neoplasm characterized by a reciprocal translocation between the long arms of chromosomes 9 and 22 that results in expression of the oncoprotein BCR-ABL1. An optimal response to tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs) requires a BCR-ABL transcript level ? 10% at 3 months, ? 1% at 6 months, ? 0.1% at 1 year, and ? 0.01% onwards. Complex scenarios like P190^BCR-ABL CML, unusual BCR-ABL transcripts, primary refractory CML, and detection of TKI-resistance mutations during treatment frequently pose a therapeutic challenge. In this article we present some of these clinical scenarios using a case-based approach.

J Med Cases. 2020;11(7):215-220
doi: https://doi.org/10.14740/jmc3510