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Initial treatment for patients with chronic myeloid leukemia

Leukemia Supplements volume 1, pages S37–S39 (2012)Cite this article

Abstract

The first-line treatment of chronic myeloid leukemia is based on the three currently available tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs), namely imatinib, nilotinib and dasatinib. Nilotinib and dasatinib are more potent, and it is predicted that, in comparison with imatinib, they can reduce the risk of progression and increase the number of the patients who can discontinue the treatment without relapsing. Other TKIs are still being developed and may help to improve treatment options further on. Hydroxyurea has no longer a role. Allogeneic stem cell transplantation is the treatment of choice for the advanced phases, and in case of resistance to at least two TKIs.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Hematology and Oncology ‘L. and A. Seràgnoli’, University of Bologna, S. Orsola-Malpighi Hospital, Bologna, Italy

    M Baccarani

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  1. M Baccarani
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Correspondence to M Baccarani.

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Competing interests

MB has received consulting fees from Novartis, Bristol-Myers Squibb, Pfizer Inc., Ariad Pharmaceuticals, and has received lecture fees from Novartis and Bristol-Myers Squibb.

Additional information

This article was published as part of a supplement that was supported by Novartis, MSD Italia, Roche, Celgene, GlaxoSmithKline, Sanofi, Gilead, Adienne, Italfarmaco, Pierre Fabre Pharmaceuticals with an unrestricted educational contribution to AREO—Associazione Ricerche Emato-Oncologiche (Genoa) and AMS—Associazione Malattie del Sangue (Milan) for the purpose of advancing research in acute and chronic leukemia.

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Baccarani, M. Initial treatment for patients with chronic myeloid leukemia. Leukemia Suppl 1 (Suppl 2), S37–S39 (2012). https://doi.org/10.1038/leusup.2012.21

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