Lifelong oral tyrosine kinase inhibitor (TKI) therapy happens to be the conventional treatment for chronic-phase chronic myeloid leukemia (CML). Some patients were able to securely stop treatment and stay in a treatment-free respite if they experienced a deep molecular response to the TKI therapy on a continuous basis as per numerous trials. Patients who had regular clinical care were offered to discontinue their TKI therapy. The views patients had on the discontinuation of TKI and the factors they consider were studied in order for us to aid them in making their decision.
Patients from three different academic cancer centers located in the United States were enlisted. Scientists recorded and wrote down information about the interviews they had with them in order to evaluate the qualitative information they collected.
About 11 (50%) of the 22 patients they conversed with desired to discontinue their TKI therapy. There were eleven different factors that were found to affect their decision-making and each patient had diverse views when they weighed these factors. TKI side effects, the danger of a relapse, polypharmacy, financial considerations, and the inclination to change something that was performing effectively were some of the common factors. All of the patients had a different comprehension of their probability of being able to attain a treatment-free respite. Patients who did not wish to discontinue their TKI therapy were more precise in their comprehension regarding the danger of relapse than those who wished to discontinue TKI therapy.
As the number of patients with well-controlled CML progressively rises, this decision will become more common. The requirement for patients to be educated on this topic and aided in making a decision was brought to attention by the results of this study in order for both patients and providers to make a value-based and well-informed decision.
Link:theoncologist.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1634/theoncologist.2018-0831
