Myeloid Leukemias: A Glance at Middle Eastern Centers

Area of Science:

• Hematology
• Oncology
• Epidemiology

Background:

• Myeloid leukemias (MLs) are clonal stem cell disorders with varying global incidence and outcomes.
• Existing ML research primarily relies on Western data, potentially overlooking regional differences.
• Egypt, with its large native population, presents a unique focus for Middle Eastern ML studies.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the characteristics, treatment, and outcomes of myeloid leukemias in Egyptian health centers.
• To compare ML data from the Middle East with established Western registry findings.
• To identify potential racial, ethnic, and risk factor influences on ML incidence and presentation.

Main Methods:

• Retrospective analysis of 468 myeloid leukemia patient records from two tertiary health centers.
• Classification of patients into chronic myeloid leukemia (CML) and acute myeloid leukemia (AML) groups.
• Subgrouping AML into primary and secondary cases for detailed analysis.

Main Results:

• The median age of ML patients was 43 years, with distinct gender distributions across CML and AML subtypes.
• Gleevec treatment was utilized in 37.2% of CML patients; stem cell transplantation was limited (5% in AML).
• Overall response rates and survival were significantly lower in AML compared to CML, with high dropout and mortality rates.

Conclusions:

• Egyptian ML patients present at a younger age, with female predominance in CML.
• Outcomes for myeloid leukemias in Egypt appear poorer than reported in Western populations.
• Findings underscore the importance of regional variations in ML epidemiology and the need for localized research.