Summary of 615 patients of chronic myeloid leukemia in Shanghai from 2001 to 2006

Evaluation of contraception methods in chronic myeloid leukemia patients: A Turkish multicenter study

BACKGROUND AND AIM

Chronic myeloid leukemia (CML) incidence has recently increased in younger individuals. With time, given the nature of the disease and available therapies, as well as the existing paucity and inconsistency of advice, worries about fertility have surfaced. With all these clear unknowns, we designed this study to raise awareness among both physicians and CML patients about whether male and female patients of childbearing age were using contraception at the time of diagnosis, and if so, which methods they were using. In this context, this study aimed to evaluate the contraception methods in patients with CML.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Eighteen centres from Turkey participated in the study. Male and female patients of childbearing age diagnosed with chronic and accelerated phase CML between the years 2000 and 2024 were evaluated retrospectively.

RESULTS

Of the two hundred and thirty-two patients included, one hundred and twenty-five (53.9%) of these patients were female and 107 (46.1%) were male. At diagnosis, all female patients were in the childbearing age, and male patients were sexually active. The median age at diagnosis of the patients was 38 (range, 18-77) years. Eighty-six (68.8%) female patients were using any contraception method, while this was 53.2% (n = 57) among male patients.

CONCLUSION

In conclusion, since CML patients are diagnosed at an earlier age and the desire of these patients to have children, adequate information and evaluation should be provided regarding fertility and contraception issues, especially in female patients, from the moment of diagnosis.

Definition, Epidemiology, Pathophysiology, and Essential Criteria for Diagnosis of Pediatric Chronic Myeloid Leukemia

Simple Summary

The low incidence (1:1,000,000) of chronic myeloid leukemia (CML) in the first two decades of life presents an obstacle to accumulation of pediatric experience and knowledge on this leukemia. Biological features of CML are shared but also differing between adult and pediatric patients. This review aims; (i) to define the disease based on an unified terminology, (ii) to list the diseases to be considered as a differential diagnosis in children, (iii) to outlines the morphological, histopathological and immuno-phenotypical findings of pediatric CML, (iv) to illustrate rare but classical complications resulting from high white cell and platelet counts at diagnosis, and (v) to recommend a uniform approach for the diagnostic procedures to be applied. Evidently, only a clear detailed picture of all relevant features can lay the basis for standardized treatment approaches.

Abstract

Depending on the analytical tool applied, the hallmarks of chronic myeloid leukemia (CML) are the Philadelphia Chromosome and the resulting mRNA fusion transcript BCR-ABL1. With an incidence of 1 per 1 million of children this malignancy is very rare in the first 20 years of life. This article aims to; (i) define the disease based on the WHO nomenclature, the appropriate ICD 11 code and to unify the terminology, (ii) delineate features of epidemiology, etiology, and pathophysiology that are shared, but also differing between adult and pediatric patients with CML, (iii) give a short summary on the diseases to be considered as a differential diagnosis of pediatric CML, (iv) to describe the morphological, histopathological and immunophenotypical findings of CML in pediatric patients, (v) illustrate rare but classical complications resulting from rheological problems observed at diagnosis, (vi) list essential and desirable diagnostic criteria, which hopefully in the future will help to unify the attempts when approaching this rare pediatric malignancy.

Management of Chronic Myeloid Leukemia in Advanced Phase

Management of chronic myeloid leukemia (CML) in advanced phases remains a challenge also in the era of tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs) treatment. Cytogenetic clonal evolution and development of resistant mutations represent crucial events that limit the benefit of subsequent therapies in these patients. CML is diagnosed in accelerated (AP) or blast phase (BP) in <5% of patients, and the availability of effective treatments for chronic phase (CP) has dramatically reduced progressions on therapy. Due to smaller number of patients, few randomized studies are available in this setting and evidences are limited. Nevertheless, three main scenarios may be drawn: (a) patients diagnosed in AP are at higher risk of failure as compared to CP patients, but if they achieve optimal responses with frontline TKI treatment their outcome may be similarly favorable; (b) patients diagnosed in BP may be treated with TKI alone or with TKI together with conventional chemotherapy regimens, and subsequent transplant decisions should rely on kinetics of response and individual transplant risk; (c) patients in CP progressing under TKI treatment represent the most challenging population and they should be treated with alternative TKI according to the mutational profile, optional chemotherapy in BP patients, and transplant should be considered in suitable cases after return to second CP. Due to lack of validated and reliable markers to predict blast crisis and the still unsatisfactory results of treatments in this setting, prevention of progression by careful selection of frontline treatment in CP and early treatment intensification in non-optimal responders remains the main goal. Personalized evaluation of response kinetics could help in identifying patients at risk for progression.

[Comparison of generic and original imatinib in the treatment of newly diagnosed patients with chronic myelogenous leukemia in chronic phase: a multicenter retrospective clinical study]

Objective: To evaluate the efficacy and safety of generic imatinib (Genike, Chiatai Tianqing Pharmaceutical Group Co., Ltd.) and imatinib (Glevic, Novartis, Switzerland) in newly diagnosed patients with chronic myeloid leukemia in chronic phase (CML-CP) . Methods: A retrospective study of 323 CML-CP patients (205 in Glivec treatment group and 118 in Genike group) who were ≥ 18 years old receiving imatinib monotherapy over the period of June 2013 to March 2016 was done to compare the differences of cytogenetics, molecular curative effect, survival, and adverse reactions between the two groups. The beginning dosage of imatinib was 400mg per day. There was no statistically difference between the two groups of patients on baseline. Results: ①The median duration of imatinib treatment was 13 (0.5-36) months in Glevic group and 11 (1-31) months in Genike group. ②The rate of complete hematological remission (CHR) had no statistically difference between Glivec and Genike treatment groups[98% (201/205) vs 97.5% (115/118) , χ(2)=0.123, P=0.725]. ③Cumulative rates of major cytogenetic responses (MCyR) at 3, 6 and 12 months after imatinib treatment in Gleevec and Genike groups were (59.7±3.5) % vs (79.8±3.1) %, (89.2±2.6) % vs (59.1±4.7) %, (80.3±4.1) % vs (87.1±4.3) %, respectively, the difference was not statistically significant (χ(2)=0.084, P=0.772) . Cumulative rates of complete cytogenetic response (CCyR) at 3, 6 and 12 months after imatinib treatment in Gleevec and Genike groups were (32.9±3.4) % vs (58.3±3.7) %, (87.4±3.0) % vs (35.2±4.5) %, (64.8±4.8) % vs (87.3±4.7) %, respectively, the difference was not statistically significant (χ(2)=0.660, P=0.417) . ④Cumulative rates of major molecular responses at 6, 12 months after imatinib treatment in Glevic and Genike groups were (24.9±3.3) % vs (57.0±4.1) %, (16.3±4.0) % vs (55.3±7.7) %, respectively, there was no statistical significance (χ(2)=1.617, P=0.204) . Cumulative rates of molecular response 4.5 (MR4.5) at 12 months after imatinib treatment in Glevic and Genike groups were (14.9±3.2) % vs (8.1±2.1) % (χ(2)=3.628, P=0.057) , respectively. ⑤At a median follow-up of 12 months, the difference of progression-free survival (PFS) in Glevic and Genike groups had no statistical significance[ (96.6±1.4) % vs (93.3±2.5) %, χ(2)=2.293, P=0.130]. The difference of event-free survival (EFS) had no statistical significance, either[ (95.6±1.5) % vs (93.3±2.4) %, χ(2)=2.124, P=0.145]. ⑥Genike was well tolerated in patients with CML-CP and had no statistically significant difference in adverse events compared with Glevic group. Conclusion: There were no statistically significant differences in efficacy and safety between Glevic and Genike treatment in newly diagnosed patients with CML-CP.

Fighting against hematological malignancy in China: from unique system to global impact

During recent decades, substantial progress has been made in clinical strategies for treating hematological malignancies. Not only did China benefit from the global progression in the management of acute promyelocytic leukemia, risk-stratification-directed strategies for acute or chronic leukemia and haploidentical hematopoietic stem cell transplantation, the unique system developed by Chinese doctors has also become inspiration for refining global clinical practice. The multicenter trials and collaborations adhering to international standards might further strengthen the global impact and lead the way in specific fields of research worldwide.

Pregnancies in patients with chronic myeloid leukemia treated with tyrosine kinase inhibitor

We presented our experience in chronic myeloid leukemia (CML) patients who conceived children and/or became pregnant while receiving tyrosine kinase inhibitor (TKI). Among 7 male patients, 7 pregnancies resulted in the birth of 7 healthy babies. Among 18 female patients, 8 ended in elective abortion; 3 had spontaneous abortion, and 7 carried to term, resulting in the birth of 8 healthy babies. All children have normal growth and development. All patients remain in TKI therapy and in good response. It is suggested that female patients are advised to practice adequate contraception. No special precautions apply for male patients receiving TKI.