Challenges in Chronic Myeloid Leukemia Management in South America

• Published in: Current hematologic malignancy reports Vol. 16; no. 5; pp. 440 - 447
• Main Authors: Pagnano, Katia B., Varela, Ana Ines, Pavlovsky, Carolina, Bendit, Israel, Funke, Vaneuza A. M., Polo, Virginia Abello
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: New York Springer US 01.10.2021
• Subjects: Chronic Myeloid Leukemias (MJ Mauro and G Saglio; Geriatrics/Gerontology; Hematology; Medicine; Medicine & Public Health; Oncology; Section Editors; Topical Collection on Chronic Myeloid Leukemias; Chronic myeloid leukemia; Management; Treatment-free remission; Tyrosine kinase inhibitors; Monitoring; Hematopoietic stem cell transplantation
• ISSN: 1558-8211; 1558-822X
• DOI: 10.1007/s11899-021-00654-0

Purpose of Review Chronic myeloid leukemia (CML) management in developing countries has improved in the last years, but the availability of therapeutic resources, monitoring, reimbursement, and financial issues may be a challenge and interfere with the best practices and results of CML treatment. This review points out the main challenges in CML management in South America. Recent Findings. In this review, we describe the access to tyrosine kinase inhibitors and monitoring in different countries of South America. We also address the ongoing discontinuation trials, the progress, and limitations of hematopoietic stem cell transplantation in the last years. Summary There are still many challenges for achieving the best outcomes for CML patients in South America. The continuous efforts to provide continuous education, access to tyrosine kinase inhibitors, and monitoring, providing reference centers for CML management and hematopoietic stem cell transplantation may improve patients’ outcomes.