BackgroundIntermittent treatment with TKIs is an option for elderly CML patients who are often candidate to life-long treatment.Matherials and MethodsThe Italian phase III multicentric randomized OPTkIMA study aimed to evaluate if a progressive de-escalation of TKIs is able to maintain the MR3.0 and to improve Health Related Quality of Life (HRQoL) in CML elderly patients.Results215 patients in stable MR3.0/MR4.0 were randomized to receive an intermittent TKI schedule 1 month ON-1 month OFF for 3 years (FIXED arm; n=111) vs a progressive de-escalation TKI dose up to one third of the starting dose at the 3rd year (PROGRESSIVE arm; n=104). 203 patients completed the 3rd year of OPTkIMA study. At last follow up, MR3.0 loss was 27% vs 46% (p=0.005) in the FIXED vs PROGRESSIVE arm, respectively. None of these patients experienced disease progression. The 3 years probability of maintaining the MR3.0 was 59% vs 53%, respectively (p=0.13). HRQoL globally improved from baseline to the 3rd year, without any significant difference between the two arms. After the 3rd year, the proportion of patients who was address to TKI discontinuation in the two arms was 36% (FIXED) vs 58% (PROGRESSIVE) (p=0.03).ConclusionsThe intensification of intermittent TKI therapy is associated with a higher incidence of MR3.0 loss, but those patients who maintain the MR3.0 molecular response at the end of the study have been frequently considered eligible for TFR. The HRQoL generally improved during the de-escalation therapy in both randomization arms.MICROABSTRACT- Both FIXED and PROGRESSIVE intermittent TKI therapy are feasible and safe schedules in elderly patients with sustained major or deep molecular response.- The PROGRESSIVE intermittent schedule is associated with a higher incidence of MR3.0 loss.- The HRQoL improved during both intermittent schedules.- The PROGRESSIVE schedule was considered by Clinicians as a valid tool to select patients eligible for TKI discontinuation.
In chronic-phase chronic myeloid leukemia (CML), tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs) are the standard of care, and treatment-free remission (TFR) following the achievement of a stable deep molecular response (DMR) has become, alongside survival, a primary goal for virtually all patients. The GIMEMA CML working party recently suggested that the possibility of achieving TFR cannot be denied to any patient, and proposed specific treatment policies according to the patient's age and risk. However, other international recommendations (including 2020 ELN recommendations) are more focused on survival and provide less detailed suggestions on how to choose first and subsequent lines of treatment. Consequently, some grey areas remain. After literature review, a panel of Italian experts discussed the following controversial issues: (1) early prediction of DMR and TFR: female sex, non-high disease risk score, e14a2 transcript and early MR achievement have been associated with stable DMR, but the lack of these criteria is not sufficient to exclude any patient from TFR; (2) criteria for first and subsequent line therapy choice: a number of patient and drug characteristics have been proposed to make a personalized decision; (3) monitoring of residual disease after discontinuation: after the first 6 months, the frequency of molecular tests can be reduced based on MR4.5 persistence and short turnaround time; (4) prognosis of TFR: therapy and DMR duration are important to predict TFR; although immunological control of CML plays a role, no immunological predictive phenotype is currently available. This guidance is intended as a practical tool to support physicians in decision making.
Two decades following the successful introduction of the ABL tyrosine kinase inhibitors in clinics for the treatment of patients with chronic myeloid leukaemia (CML), the principal objective of treatment in chronic phase (CP) is survival, preferably without life-long therapy. In tandem, the methodology and tools for assessing the prognosis of the newly diagnosed patient with CML in CP has evolved substantially. Prior to the era of tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs), risk assessment depended more on the response to treatment than on baseline characteristics. The Sokal score, introduced in 1984, was the first one dividing patients into three risk categories based on a mathematical formula taking into account the patient’s age, and baseline characteristics like blast cell count, spleen size, and platelet count. This, and the several other subsequent risk stratification methods developed during the chemotherapy and interferon-alpha era, have remained useful in the first-line TKI treatment, and identifies a variable proportion of high-risk patients with lower response rates and worse outcomes. In second line, the most important risk factors are the absence of haematologic or cytogenetic response on first line, the presence of hematologic toxicity the development of additional cytogenetic abnormities (ACA), and the development of BCR-ABL1 kinase domain mutations. In this chapter, we address the prognosis of CML and the various methods for risk stratification.
Background: Family planning is important in patients (pts) with chronic myeloid leukemia (CML) who can have a near normal lifespan in tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKI) era. Management of CML on conceptions and pregnancies is not defined as cases are rare and data are scarce. To investigate this issue a multicenter retrospective and prospective observational study of conception/pregnancy in CML pts was initiated within the European LeukemiaNet (ELN) from February 2014 till present. All ELN centers and participants from other countries were invited and received the study's protocol which was adopted in agreement with specific national laws. Aims: The main goal was to describe CML pts in terms of pregnancy/conceptions management and outcome. Secondary goals included demographics, characteristics of CML, management during pregnancy, pregnancy outcomes and characteristics of children. Methods: Adult pts aged ≥18 years with Ph+ positive CML and pregnancy were included after signing a written informed consent. Data were collected either in the coordinating centers in Moscow (Russia) and Rome (Italy) followed by the analyses of the entire data set. A total 305 pregnancy cases in 234 CML female pts from 15 centers of 13 countries worldwide were analyzed (Table 1). Results: Chronic phase at diagnosis was in 217/221(98%) pts. In 50 (21%) pts CML was diagnosed during pregnancy, while 184 (67%) got pregnant after diagnosis. Median (Me) time from CML diagnosis to pregnancy was 59 months (range 1–203). The outcomes of 305 pregnancies were as follows: labor 234 (77%), induced abortion 42 (14%), spontaneous abortion 21 (7%) and ongoing pregnancy or unknown outcome 8 (2%). Labor at full term was in 141 (75%) of 187 cases fully reported (Table 2). Molecular response (MR) evaluations at the start of pregnancy were recorded in 249/305 cases. Deep MR (DMR or BCR-ABL≤0,01% IS), major MR (MMR or BCR-ABL≤0,1%> >0,01% IS), MR2 (BCR-ABL>0,1%> ≤1% IS) and no MR2 (BCR-ABL>1% IS) was observed in 80 (32%), 31 (12%), 32 (13%) and 106 (43%) cases respectively. In 182 (71%) of 257 pregnancies with known data pts conceived while on TKI: 77% under imatinib (IM) and 23% TKI 2nd/3rd generation. TKIs were usually stopped early in 1st trimester (4–5 week of gestation) when the pregnancy was discovered. In 82 pregnancies pts were treated during 2nd-3rd trimester, after placental formation, until labor with IM: 33 (40%) of cases), nilotinib (NIL): 8 (9%), interferon (IFN): 23 (28%, 1 PEG-IFN), hydroxyurea: 6 (7%). IM was used throughout pregnancy in 13 (16%). One case of leukaferesis was recorded. The number of born children in 226 fully reported labors was 233 (including twins). Congenital abnormalities were recorded in 4 (1,7%) cases as follows: polydactyly (1), hypospadias (1) and non-closed foramen ovale of interatrial septum (2). None of the abnormalities were severe or life threatening, relationship to TKI use was considered unlikely by physicians. Low birth weight was recorded in 13 children with IM or NIL exposure at late pregnancy. The follow-up of all children was uneventful, with Me age at follow-up of 5 years (range 2 months-17 years).Summary/Conclusion: Most pregnancies in CML female pts resulted in normal childbirth with no increased rate of birth abnormalities in spite of TKI use at conception even if treatments were mostly early stopped at implant (4–5 weeks). Different therapies were used during pregnancy when needed. The results in terms of conception/pregnancy may be valuable for the development of CML treatment schemes particularly considering the variety of disease status.
