Treatment Responses in Patients with Chronic Myeloid Leukemia on Tyrosine Kinase Inhibitors (TKI) Therapy

Abstract

Background: Chronic myeloid leukemia (CML) is a cancer of white blood cells results by the BCR-ABL translocation. Part of BCR gene from chromosome 22 is fused with ABL gene on chromosome 9. Aim: To observe percentage of patients achieving Cytogenetics response (CR), and Deep molecular response (DMR) in CML patients taking TKI (Imatinib and Nilotinib). Study Design: Retrospective Cohort study. Methodology: This study was conducted in 2018-2019 in about 198 CML patients to evaluate TKI therapy response and observation was based upon their Quantitative PCR test which gave percentage of BCR-ABL gene translocation in IU. Patients which were diagnosed with CML in 2016 and was regular in their treatment for about 2 years were included in the study. No intervention was given as in vivo study. Statistical analysis: Data analyzed by SPSS 25.0v. Results: Results showed that out of 198 CML patients, started on 1st line TKI (imatinib) 95 males (48%) and 103 females (52%) showed cytogenetic response at start of therapy and after 2 years of therapy 157 (79.3%) patient showed DMR. Conclusion: This study concluded that regular 2-year treatment of chronic CML patients with TKIs produced significant response in patients. Keywords: BCR-ABL Translocation, Cytogenetic Response, Major Molecular Response, Complete Molecular Response and Deep Molecular Response.