Management of Elderly Patients with Newly Diagnosed Chronic Myeloid Leukemia in the Accelerated or Blastic Phase

In the elderly population, the accelerated and blastic phases of chronic myeloid leukemia (CML) are difficult to treat, not just because of the higher chance of acquired mutations than in younger individuals, but because of additional associated co-morbidities. Tyrosine kinase inhibitors are well-established in the treatment of the chronic phase of CML, and their use in advanced phases is ever-increasing. Elderly patients who are still eligible candidates for transplant can undergo reduced-intensity transplants from related or unrelated donors after reverting to chronic phase. Post-transplantation, these patients require adequate monitoring and therapy to prevent relapses. Newer modalities of treatment or interventions are urgently required in this complex group of patients.