Abstract
With the success of tyrosine kinase inhibitor (TKI) therapy for the treatment of patients with chronic myeloid leukemia (CML), CML is now treated as a chronic disease. As such, the community of oncologists may see patients with CML more often than the primary-care physician and must focus on long-term management of adverse events and adherence. BCR-ABL1 TKIs are effective therapies in CML but are associated with distinct safety profiles. Thus, selection of long-term treatment with any TKI requires assessment of patient comorbidities and regular monitoring to identify the potential emergence of adverse effects or new risk factors. With a focus on long-term safety, this review provides a holistic picture of the primary care needs of patients with CML, emphasizing on the importance of community oncologists who in many cases act as both oncologists and primary-care physicians.
Footnotes
This article is freely accessible online.
Conflicts of Interest
Javier Pinilla-Ibarz is a consultant for Ariad Pharmaceuticals, Bristol-Myers Squibb, Novartis Pharmaceuticals, Pfizer Corporation, and Teva Pharmaceutical Industries, serves on the speaker bureaus of Bristol-Myers Squibb, Pfizer, and Teva, and receives research support from Ariad and Novartis. Kendra Sweet is a consultant for Ariad Pharmaceuticals and Pfizer, serves on the speaker bureaus of Novartis, Ariad, and Pfizer. Josephine Emole and Michael Fradley have nothing to disclose.
- Received August 28, 2015.
- Revision received October 1, 2015.
- Accepted October 5, 2015.
- Copyright© 2015 International Institute of Anticancer Research (Dr. John G. Delinassios), All rights reserved