An Approach to the Management of Chronic Myeloid Leukemia in British Columbia

Chronic myeloid leukemia (CML) is a myeloproliferative disorder whose therapy has changed dramatically since the late 1990s. With the introduction of the tyrosine kinase inhibitor (TKI) imatinib mesylate, the treatment outcomes for patients with CML have improved markedly, and hematopoietic stem-cell transplantation is no longer routinely offered as first-line therapy for most patients in chronic phase. However, resistance to TKI therapy is increasingly being recognized, and alternative therapy is needed for this group of patients. In addition, the development of models predicting response to TKI therapy is desired, so that appropriate treatment strategies can be used for individual patients. The present report serves to outline the approach to the treatment of CML in British Columbia and to highlight areas of ongoing research.