LONG TERM TREATMENT RESULTS OF TARGETED THERAPY IN CHRONIC PHASE CHRONIC MYELOID LEUKEMIA: SINGLE CENTER EXPERIENCE

Purpose: Chronic myeloid leukemia (CML) is a hematopoietic stem cell disease characterized by excessive and uncontrolled proliferation in myeloid cells. Treatment success in CML has been significantly increased with tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs). In the long-term follow-up of CML patients, side-effect management of targeted therapy, loss of response and close monitoring of drug resistance mechanisms have gained importance in clinical practice. The aim of this study was to evaluate the clinical course of chronic phase CML patients who were treated and followed up in our center, retrospectively. Material and Method: The results of 72 chronic phase CML patients treated with TKIs between June 2001 and December 2016 were evaluated retrospectively. Results: Seventy-two patients (36 (50%) female and 36 (50%) male) with a median age of 40 years (16-66) were included in the study. The median follow-up period was 88 (20-207) months and the median overall survival was 92.5 (21-207) months. Sixty-five (95.6%) of 68 patients who were still under follow-up had major molecular response and 3 (4.4%) had complete cytogenetic response. Conclusion: The prognosis of chronic phase CML patients has improved dramatically in the last 20 years with the introduction of TKIs into clinical practice, and life expectancy has approached the general healthy population. In the daily practical follow-up of CML patients, the recommendations in the guidelines should be strictly followed