Treatment outcomes in CML patients treated with tyrosine kinase inhibitors at a tertiary teaching hospital in South Africa

Publication date: Available online 21 September 2015 Source:Clinical Lymphoma Myeloma and Leukemia Author(s): Gerhard Sissolak, Jacques Badenhorst, Janami Steenkamp, Mark Heaney, Vernon Louw, Desmond Schnugh, Pascale Willem Chronic myeloid leukemia (CML) has become one of the most treatable hematologic neoplasms since the advent of the tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs), but it was not known if similar treatment outcomes could be achieved in a resource-limited country. We tested the hypothesis that, despite challenges to access to second generation TKIs, excellent responses could be replicated in the setting of limited resources. Records of 58 newly diagnosed CML patients in chronic phase (CML-CP) treated with TKIs at a tertiary teaching hospital in Cape Town, South Africa between 2003 and 2012 were reviewed and assessed by European LeukemiaNet (ELN) criteria. After median follow up of 60.5 months, Progression Free Survival (PFS) at 60 and 96 months was 79.98% and 68.4%, respectively. Overall survival (OS) at 60 and 96 months was 92.9% and 83.6%, respectively. Progression to blast phase at 60 months was associated with poorer survival (p = 0.0002) but progression to accelerated phase was not (p = 0.1456). Attainment of complete cytogenetic response (CCR) at 12 months (p = 0.28) or major molecular response (MMR) at 18 months (p = 0.268) did not have prognostic significance. Despite delays in achieving the target responses defined by ELN criteria, the use of Im...
Source: Clinical Lymphoma Myeloma and Leukemia - Category: Cancer & Oncology Source Type: research