How to treat chronic myeloid leukemia (CML) in older adults

Chronic myeloid leukemia (CML), a myeloproliferative neoplasm defined by the t(9;22)(q34;q11) chromosomal translocation, primarily affects older adults. Historically, effective treatment options were not available for older CML patients ineligible for curative allogeneic stem cell transplant, and the disease was therefore usually fatal within several years of diagnosis. The development of tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs) that effectively target the constitutively active mutant tyrosine kinase in CML has dramatically improved outcomes for all patients with CML, including older patients. While older patients were underrepresented in prospective trials, TKI therapy can be successfully administered to older adults with CML with excellent efficacy and proven tolerability. TKI selection and monitoring for adverse events should be tailored based on co-morbidities. As with younger patients, life expectancy of older adults with CML now approaches that of age-matched controls. Here we review guidelines for management of older adults with CML.