Is chronic myeloid leukemia (CML) curable with treatment, and what does undetectable BCR-ABL mean for long-term prognosis?
CML can sometimes be cured, though it depends on the treatment approach. Bone marrow transplants can potentially cure CML by eliminating all leukemia cells for good. However, most people with CML are Show Full Answer
Is chronic myeloid leukemia (CML) curable with treatment, and what does undetectable BCR-ABL mean for long-term prognosis?
CML can sometimes be cured, though it depends on the treatment approach. Bone marrow transplants can potentially cure CML by eliminating all leukemia cells for good. However, most people with CML are treated with targeted therapies called tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs), which are highly effective at controlling the disease long-term rather than curing it.
When BCR-ABL becomes undetectable, it's called a complete cytogenetic response. This is an excellent sign for your prognosis. About 70 percent of people with CML achieve this response with imatinib therapy, meaning the BCR-ABL gene can no longer be detected.
The long-term outlook with undetectable BCR-ABL is very positive:
* The 10-year survival rate for people taking imatinib is approximately 83 percent
* Most people who started using TKI treatments 20 years ago are still alive
* About 9 out of 10 people with CML who used imatinib lived at least five years
Researchers are still learning about survival rates because these newer targeted therapies are so effective at keeping chronic phase CML under control. The treatments can keep leukemia managed for many years, allowing people to live longer, healthier lives even if the disease isn't technically "cured."
February 24
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