Chronic myeloid leukemia: First-line drug of choice

Abstract

The advent of tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs) has drastically changed the treatment outcome of chronic myeloid leukemia (CML). Imatinib was the first TKI approved, and has been considered the standard of care for more than a decade. Second generation compounds, namely dasatinib and nilotinib, are highly effective in newly diagnosed patients as well as those who fail imatinib. Second generation TKIs have been demonstrated to induce deeper and faster responses compared to imatinib, however no survival advantage has been observed so far. Today, the expected survival of CML patients, if properly managed, is likely to be similar to the general population. Clinicians are faced the challenge of making decision for which TKI to choose upfront. Comorbidities of the patient, the side effect profile, and the cost of the TKI of interest should be an important consideration in decision making. Whatever TKI is chosen as frontline, noncompliance or treatment failure should be recognized early as a prompt intervention increases the chance of achieving best possible response. Herein, we review the frontline options for the management of patients with CML and how to best choose these agents.