Vnitr Lek 2012, 58(Suppl 2):27-37

Chronic myeloid leukaemia - a crucial change to the patient prognosis after an introduction of tyrosine kinase inhibitors

H. Klamová

Ústav hematologie a krevní transfuze Praha, ředitel prof. MUDr. Marek Trněný, CSc.

Chronic myeloid leukaemia (CML) is an example of a disease where new knowledge in molecular biology enabled thorough understanding of the nature of the disease as well as it led to a discovery of completely new, targeted treatment principle, i.e. inhibition of tyrosine kinase Bcr-Abl, now the main therapeutic target. Introduction of tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKI) imatinib, dasatinib, nilotinib into clinical practice meant a revolutionary change to treatment strategy with a significant effect on survival and patient quality of life. A disease with originally fatal prognosis has changed in patients diagnosed in its chronic phase to a disease with expected median survival estimated at more than 25 years.

Keywords: chronic myeloid leukaemia; tyrosine kinase inhibitors; imatinib; dasatinib; nilotinib; interferone alpha

Received: May 15, 2012; Published: April 1, 2012  Show citation