Current Information and Recommendations on the Discontinuation of TKI Inhibitors in Chronic Myeloid Leukemia

Abstract

Purpose of Review

Discontinuation of tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs) in chronic phase chronic myeloid leukemia (CP-CML) patients has become a reality. Treatment-free remission (TFR) is the term that identifies success after discontinuation.

Recent Findings

Several trials have demonstrated that with imatinib about 40% of patients discontinuing treatment in deep and stable molecular response remain disease-free. Second-generation TKIs have improved the rate of deep molecular responses and allowed to increase the percentage of patients attempting treatment discontinuation.

Summary

We hereby review the current information based on the available published data and discuss the current suggestions on how to move TFR into the clinical practice.