Treatment-free remission (TFR) after discontinuation of tyrosine kinase inhibitor therapy is now an emerging treatment goal for patients with chronic myeloid leukemia, who have achieved a deep and stable response to treatment. Although guidance is now available, patients' questions regarding this progressive concept have yet to be addressed. The overall aim of this European Steering Group is a patient-centered approach that educates patients on their treatment options, including TFR, facilitates better patient-physician relationships, and meets patients' emotional and psychological needs. The present report outlines 5 key topic areas on discontinuing tyrosine kinase therapy and the implications of TFR for patient-physician consideration: what TFR is; when TFR is appropriate; which patients might and might not be eligible for TFR; and patients' considerations for discontinuing therapy, such as tyrosine kinase withdrawal syndrome, potential psychological implications, molecular recurrence, and repeat treatment. This Steering Group advocates that patients with chronic myeloid leukemia should have access to high-quality, frequent molecular monitoring and be treated in a specialist center with appropriate medical and psychological support. As patient concerns with attempting TFR become forefront in patient-physician discussions, a greater number of eligible patients might be willing to discontinue therapy.

Albert Schweitzer Hospital Dordrecht The Netherlands

Clinical Centre of Serbia University of Belgrade School of Medicine Belgrade Serbia

CML Advocates Network Netanya Israel

CML Association of Serbia Belgrade Serbia

CML UK Birmingham United Kingdom

Department of Clinical and Biological Sciences University of Turin Turin Italy

Department of Internal Medicine Hematology and Oncology University Hospital Brno Brno Czech Republic

Gruppo AIL Pazienti Leucemia Mieloide Cronica Rome Italy

Hematon Foundation Utrecht The Netherlands

Hospital da Luz Lisbon Portugal

Hospital Universitario Ramón y Cajal Ramón y Cajal Health Research Institute Madrid Spain

POLA Lithuanian Cancer Patient Coalition Kaunas Lithuania

Citace poskytuje Crossref.org

Why are not all eligible chronic myeloid leukemia patients willing to attempt tyrosine kinase inhibitor discontinuation? A Czech nationwide analysis related to the TKI stopping trial HALF