Hypomethylating agents are effective in shrinking splenomegaly in patients with chronic myelomonocytic leukemia

Approaching First-Line Treatment in Patients With Advanced CMML: Hypomethylating Agents or Cytotoxic Treatment?

Chronic myelomonocytic leukemia (CMML) is a rare clonal haematological malignancy bearing characteristics of both myelodysplastic syndromes and myeloproliferative neoplasms. It primarily affects older people (median age at diagnosis ~72 years). There are many challenges encountered in its treatment. One striking issue is the lack of strong clinical evidence from large randomized clinical trials for treating this disease. Another issue is that patients with CMML have highly variable outcomes with current treatments. Additional challenges include a wider application of current knowledge, an improved understanding of pathogenesis, development of new therapies, and management of refractory cases/disease progression. It is clear that there is still progress to be made. Here, we review the available first-line treatment options for advanced CMML. Emphasis has been placed on choosing between hypomethylating agents and cytotoxic treatments, on the basis on disease-specific and patient-specific characteristics. A proper selection between these two treatments could lead to a better quality of care for patients with CMML.

Diagnosis and treatment of chronic myelomonocytic leukemia

Chronic myelomonocytic leukemia (CMML) is a clonal disorder of hematopoietic cells and is a complex of heterogeneous conditions with both myeloproliferative and myelodysplastic features. The diagnosis of CMML is made using morphologic criteria including monocyte-dominant leukocytosis, dysplastic changes, and increased blasts in the bone marrow. Recently, the identification of monocyte subtypes in peripheral blood using multiparameter flow cytometry has been actively studied. Chromosomal abnormalities are the basis of CMML risk stratification, and mutations in several genes including ASXL1 are known to be important not only for the diagnosis and treatment of this disease but also for predicting its prognosis. The standard treatment principles for CMML have not yet been clearly defined; however, hypomethylating agents are mainly considered the frontline therapy in most cases. Although allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation has limited applications owing to its toxicity, it still plays an important role as the only curative treatment option. Researchers are continuing to develop new drugs for CMML treatment and to prove their clinical usefulness. This review summarizes what is known to date on the diagnosis, treatment, and prognostic factors of CMML and presents future directions by analyzing recent research trends.

Diagnosis and Treatment of Chronic Myelomonocytic Leukemias in Adults: Recommendations From the European Hematology Association and the European LeukemiaNet

Chronic myelomonocytic leukemia (CMML) is a disease of the elderly, and by far the most frequent overlap myelodysplastic/myeloproliferative neoplasm in adults. Aside from the chronic monocytosis that remains the cornerstone of its diagnosis, the clinical presentation of CMML includes dysplastic features, cytopenias, excess of blasts, or myeloproliferative features including high white blood cell count or splenomegaly. Prognosis is variable, with several prognostic scoring systems reported in recent years, and treatment is poorly defined, with options ranging from watchful waiting to allogeneic stem cell transplantation, which remains the only curative therapy for CMML. Here, we present on behalf of the European Hematology Association and the European LeukemiaNet, evidence- and consensus-based guidelines, established by an international group of experts, from Europe and the United States, for standardized diagnostic and prognostic procedures and for an appropriate choice of therapeutic interventions in adult patients with CMML.