TKI Discontinuation in CML Patients of China

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Description

Tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs) are the standard of care for patients with chronic myeloid leukaemia (CML) in chronic phase. Imatinib, the first ATP competitive TKI, received approval for use based on a dramatic and durable survival benefit. Other TKIs, the second generation compounds dasatinib, n...

Tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs) are the standard of care for patients with chronic myeloid leukaemia (CML) in chronic phase. Imatinib, the first ATP competitive TKI, received approval for use based on a dramatic and durable survival benefit. Other TKIs, the second generation compounds dasatinib, nilotinib and bosutinib and the third generation drug ponatinib, were designed and tested for a greater target-specific potency. With the development of these effective TKI treatments, CML disease burden can be reduced to minimal levels, and CML patients can have a life expectancy similar to that of the general population. Although TKI treatment may result in a deep, stable molecular remission, CML treatment guidelines recommend that patients continue TKI treatment indefinitely. However, Chronic TKI therapy can cause drug-related adverse reactions and constitute financial difficulties, which can result in decreased adherence to therapy. Therefore, the concept of a lifelong therapy with TKIs has thus been challenged and treatment-free remission (TFR) strategies will soon integrate clinical practice.TFR can be defined as the ability to maintain molecular remission without taking any TKI therapy. Studies have demonstrated the feasibility of successful TFR. In the STIM and TWISTER trials, imatinib discontinuation was proposed providing that patients had achieved deep molecular response for a certain period. The 2-year probability to maintain such deep molecular response levels without any TKI therapy was 38% in STIM and 47% in TWISTER. Subsequently, several studies were conducted and confirmed that imatinib-free remission was possible. Discontinuation of new generation TKIs was also investigated and indicated that dasatinib or nilotinib may promote access to TFR strategies as compared to imatinib. TFR is on the way to become an important goal in clinical practice, implicating an alternation in CML management guidelines in the near future.

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