Epidemiology of chronic myeloid leukaemia (CML)

Reliable epidemiological information on chronic myeloproliferative disorders (CMPDs), notably Philadelphia (Ph)/BCR-ABL-positive chronic myeloid leukaemia (CML), is rare. Incidence rates vary from 0.6 to 2.0 cases per 100 000 inhabitants, increase with age and are higher in men than in women. Geographic and/or ethnic variations might contribute to the variability of incidences among registries. Prevalence rate has increased by use of tyrosine kinase inhibitors.

In daily clinical practice, some CML management areas are not in line with the current recommendations. Problematic areas are sub-optimal timing of treatment decisions under monitoring, and unawareness of new molecular monitoring techniques and of beneficial new tyrosine kinase inhibitors. Median age differs between cancer registries and clinical trials by 10–20 years. Reports of clinical studies underestimate the true age of the CML population. Elderly CML patients are underrepresented in clinical studies and thus have a reduced access to investigational therapies.

Keywords: epidemiology, chronic myeloid leukaemia (CML), Philadelphia (Ph)/BCR-ABL positive, incidence, prevalence, clinical trials and practice, health care