When to Stop TKIs in Patients with Chronic Myeloid Leukemia and How to Follow Them Subsequently

ABL1 tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKI) have dramatically improved the outcome for CML (chronic myeloid leukemia) patients. When TKI therapy is addressed appropriately, it can lead to an optimal molecular response in the majority of CML patients and a life expectancy that approaches that of the general population. However, lifelong TKI therapy may have consequences, including chronic, mostly low-grade, adverse events that can substantially impact patients' quality of life, adherence to therapy and, consequently, success of treatment. In the last few years, several groups have demonstrated that approximately 50% of chronic phase CML patients (CP-CML) who have achieved a stable deep molecular response (DMR) can stop therapy without suffering molecular relapse. Nowadays, treatment-free remission (TFR) has a significant role in the management of CML and should be considered in selected motivated patients that fulfill well-defined requirements to maximize the probability of successful discontinuation of TKI therapy.