JAMA Clinical Reviews Chronic Myeloid Leukemia: A Review
8 snips
Mar 17, 2025 In this discussion, Elias J. Jabbour, a Professor of Medicine at MD Anderson Cancer Center and expert on chronic myeloid leukemia (CML), dives into the intricacies of this disease affecting millions. He highlights the pivotal role of the Philadelphia chromosome in diagnosis and the life-saving impact of tyrosine kinase inhibitors like imatinib. Jabbour also addresses the challenges of medication compliance, therapy resistance, and the evolving criteria for stem cell transplants, painting a comprehensive picture of modern CML management.
AI Snips
Chapters
Transcript
Episode notes
CML Overview
- CML is a chronic myeloproliferative neoplasm arising from bone marrow myeloid cells, often discovered incidentally through routine blood tests.
- It's characterized by the Philadelphia chromosome (9;22 translocation), activating a kinase protein causing uncontrolled cell growth.
Testing for CML
- Test for CML if a patient presents with an elevated white blood cell count, especially with immature cells (promyelocytes, myelocytes, basophils).
- Persistent high white counts despite no infection warrant CML investigation.
CML Prognosis
- Before tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs), CML had a poor prognosis with a median survival of 6-7 years.
- TKIs, introduced around 2000, have revolutionized CML treatment, allowing patients to live normal lifespans with proper treatment and compliance.