Leukemia-Chronic Myeloid (Myelogenous) Overview

The information that follows is an overview of this type of cancer. It is based on the more detailed information in our document, Leukemia-Chronic Myeloid. This document and other information can be obtained by calling 1-800-227-2345 or visiting our Web site at www.cancer.org.

What is cancer?
The body is made up of trillions of living cells. Normal body cells grow, divide, and die in an orderly way. During the early years of a person's life, normal cells divide faster to allow the person to grow. After the person becomes an adult, most cells divide only to replace worn-out, damaged, or dying cells. Cancer begins when cells in a part of the body start to grow out of control. There are many kinds of cancer, but they all start because of this out-of-control growth of abnormal cells. Cancer cell growth is different from normal cell growth. Instead of dying, cancer cells keep on growing and form new cancer cells. These cancer cells can grow into (invade) other tissues, something that normal cells cannot do. Being able to grow out of control and invade other tissues are what makes a cell a cancer cell. In most cases the cancer cells form a tumor. But some cancers, like leukemia, rarely form tumors. Instead, these cancer cells are in the blood and bone marrow. When cancer cells get into the bloodstream or lymph vessels, they can travel to other parts of the body. There they begin to grow and form new tumors that replace normal tissue. This process is called metastasis (muh-tas-tuh-sis). No matter where a cancer may spread, it is always named for the place where it started. For instance, breast cancer that has spread to the liver is still called breast cancer, not liver cancer. Likewise, prostate cancer that has spread to the bone is called metastatic prostate cancer, not bone cancer.

Different types of cancer can behave very differently. For example, lung cancer and breast cancer are very different diseases. They grow at different rates and respond to different treatments. That is why people with cancer need treatment that is aimed at their own kind of cancer. Not all tumors are cancerous. Tumors that aren't cancer are called benign (be-nine). Benign tumors can cause problems they can grow very large and press on healthy organs and tissues. But they cannot grow into other tissues. Because of this, they also can't spread to other parts of the body (metastasize). These tumors are almost never life threatening.

What is chronic myeloid leukemia?

Chronic myeloid leukemia (CML) is also known as chronic myelogenous leukemia. It is a type of cancer that starts in the blood-forming cells of the bone marrow. It then moves into the blood and can spread to other parts of the body. In CML, leukemia cells tend to build up in the body over time. In many cases, people don't have any symptoms for at least a few years. CML can also change into a fast-growing, acute leukemia that invades almost any organ in the body. Most cases of CML occur in adults, but very rarely it is found in children. As a rule, their treatment is the same as for adults. Leukemia is different from other types of cancer that start in organs such as the lungs, colon, or breast and then spread to the bone marrow. Cancers that start elsewhere and then spread to the bone marrow are not leukemia.

Normal bone marrow, blood and lymph tissue

To understand the different types of leukemia, it helps to know a little about the blood and lymph systems. This information is quite complex. It may be helpful, but you do not need to understand all of it in order to learn more about your leukemia.

Bone marrow
Bone marrow is the soft inner part of some bones like the skull, shoulder blades, ribs, pelvis, and backbones. Bone marrow is made up of blood-forming cells, fat cells, and tissues that help cells grow. The cells that make blood are called blood stem cells. These stem cells only make new blood-forming cells. They are different from embryonic stem cells because they cannot make any other kinds of cells. Stem cells divide to make new stem cells. But they also go through a series of changes to make blood cells. During this process they can become red blood cells, white blood cells, or platelets.

Red blood cells

Red blood cells carry oxygen from the lungs to all other cells in the body. They also carry away carbon dioxide, a cell waste product. Not having enough red blood cells is called anemia and makes a person feel weak, short of breath, and tired.

Platelets
Platelets aren't whole cells but rather are pieces of large cells that plug up holes in blood vessels caused by cuts or bruises. A person with a shortage of platelets can bruise or bleed easily.

White blood cells

White blood cells help the body fight infections. Lymphocytes are one type of white blood cell, but there are other types as well. Lymphocytes are the main cells that make up lymphoid tissue, an important part of the immune system. Lymphoid tissue is found in lymph nodes, the thymus gland, the spleen, the tonsils and adenoids and is scattered throughout the digestive and respiratory systems and the bone marrow. There are 2 types of lymphocytes: B lymphocytes protect the body from invading germs. T lymphocytes destroy cells that are infected with viruses.

How leukemia starts

Any of the blood-forming or lymphoid cells from the bone marrow can turn into leukemia cells. Once this happens, the cells don't go through normal growth. And in many cases, these cells do not die as they should. This allows them to build up in the bone marrow, spill into the bloodstream, and spread to other organs. This build up can lead to a shortage of normal blood cells. Having too many leukemia cells can keep other cells in the body from working the way they should.

Types of leukemia
Not all leukemias are the same. Leukemias are divided into 4 main types. Knowing the exact type of leukemia can help doctors better predict each patient's outlook (prognosis) and select the best treatment.

Acute leukemia vs. chronic leukemia

The first factor to look at in classifying a patient's leukemia is whether most of the cancer cells are look like normal (mature) white blood cells or like stem cells (which are not mature).

In acute leukemia, the cells grow fast but do not mature the way they should. The cells keep on splitting to form new cells and those cells build up in the bone marrow and blood. Without treatment, most patients with acute leukemia would live only a few months. Some types of acute leukemia respond well to treatment, and many patients can be cured. Other types of acute leukemia don't respond as well to treatment. In chronic leukemia the cells look mature but they are not really normal. The cells live too long, build up, and crowd out normal cells. Chronic leukemias tend to progress over a longer period of time, and most patients can live for many years. But chronic leukemias are often harder to cure than acute leukemias.

Myeloid leukemia vs. lymphocytic leukemia

The second factor to take into account is the type of bone marrow cells that is affected. Myeloid leukemia mostly starts in white blood cells (other than lymphocytes), but it can also start in the cells that mature into platelets or red blood cells. Lymphocytic leukemias start in lymphocytes (a type of white blood cell) in the bone marrow. By looking at whether the leukemia is acute or chronic and whether it is myeloid or lymphocytic, most cases of leukemia can be sorted into 1 of the 4 main types shown in the table here:

Acute lymphocytic leukemia (ALL) Chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL)

Acute myeloid leukemia (AML) Chronic myeloid leukemia (CML)

The information here is only about chronic myeloid leukemia (CML) in adults. The other types of adult leukemia are covered in different American Cancer Society documents. For information about leukemia in children, please see the document, Childhood Leukemia Overview.

How many people get chronic myeloid leukemia?

The American Cancer Society's most recent estimates for chronic myeloid leukemia (CML) cancers in the United States are for 2012: About 5,430 new cases of chronic myeloid leukemia (CML) About 610 deaths from CML CML affects mostly adults; it is rarely seen in children. The average age of people with CML is around 65 years. The average person's lifetime risk of getting CML is about 1 in 625.

There has been dramatic progress in treatment over the past several years. Most people with CML are now living at least 5 years after their cancer is found. The drugs used to treat CML today are still fairly new, so the average survival of people now being treated for CML is not known. To learn more, please see the section "Survival rates for chronic myeloid leukemia."

What are the risk factors for chronic myeloid leukemia?

Risk factors
A risk factor is something that affects a person's chance of getting a disease. Some risk factors, like smoking, can be controlled. Others, such as a person's age, can't be changed. But risk factors don't tell us everything. Having a risk factor, or even several risk factors, does not mean that you will get the disease. And many people who get the disease may not have had any known risk factors. There are very few known risk factors for chronic myeloid leukemia (CML). For most cases, no cause is found.

High dose radiation

Being exposed to high-dose radiation (from an atomic bomb blast or nuclear reactor accident) increases the risk of getting CML.

Age and gender

The risk of getting CML goes up with age. This disease is slightly more common in males than females, but it's not known why. There are no other proven risk factors for CML. The risk of getting CML does not seem to be linked to smoking, diet, or exposure to chemicals or infections. CML does not run in families.

DNA changes
DNA is the chemical that carries our genes, the instructions for how our cells work. During the past few years, scientists have made great progress in learning how certain changes in DNA may cause normal bone marrow cells to become leukemia cells. Sometimes a person inherits DNA changes from a parent that greatly increase the risk of getting certain types of cancer. But these inherited changes are very rarely the cause of CML. Changes linked to CML usually take place during life rather than having been inherited before birth.

Chromosomes are long chain of DNA found in every cell. One chromosome change that has been linked to CML is called the Philadelphia chromosome. The Philadelphia chromosome is found in the leukemia cells of almost all patients with CML.

Can chronic myeloid leukemia be prevented?

There is no known way to prevent most cases of chronic myeloid leukemia (CML). Many types of cancer can be prevented by lifestyle changes to avoid certain risk factors, but this is not true for most cases of CML. A few cases may be linked to high doses of radiation, but again, this is rare.

How is chronic myeloid leukemia found?

At this time, there are no special tests that can find chronic myeloid leukemia (CML) early. The best thing to do is report any symptoms to a doctor right away.

Signs and symptoms of CML

Many people with CML have no symptoms at the time their cancer is found. In these cases, the cancer is often found by blood tests done for some other reason. Even when there are symptoms, they may be very general. Symptoms of CML can include the following: Weakness Feeling very tired most of the time (fatigue) Night sweats Weight loss Fever Bone pain An enlarged spleen (felt as a mass under the left side of the ribs) Pain or a sense of "fullness" in the belly Feeling full after eating even a small amount of food Bone or joint pain But these symptoms aren't found only in CML. They can be caused by other things, too.

Problems caused by a shortage of blood cells

Many of the symptoms of CML happen because the leukemia cells crowd out the cells that make blood in the bone marrow. As a result, the person does not have enough blood cells and platelets that are working the way they should. Anemia is a result of a shortage of red blood cells. It can cause shortness of breath, fatigue, and weakness. Not having enough normal white blood cells (leukopenia) increases the risk of infection. People with leukemia may have very high white blood cell counts, but the cells are not normal and do not fight infections. Not having enough blood platelets can lead to bruising, bleeding, frequent or severe nosebleeds, and bleeding from the gums. Some patients with CML have too many platelets, but the platelets don't work the way they should.

Types of samples used to test for CML

If symptoms suggest you might have leukemia, you will need certain tests to find out if you have the disease and, if so, what type it is. Blood samples: Blood samples to test for CML are most often taken from a vein in your arm. Bone marrow samples: A bone marrow aspiration and biopsy are 2 tests that are usually done at the same time. Samples are most often taken from the back of the hip bone, but in some cases they may be taken from the breastbone or other bones. In bone marrow aspiration, a hollow needle is used to pull out a small amount of liquid bone marrow. The skin and the surface of the bone are first numbed, but the test can still hurt. During a bone marrow biopsy, a small core of bone and marrow (about " long) is removed with a slightly larger needle that is twisted as it is pushed into the bone. The biopsy may also cause some brief pain. Once the biopsy is done, pressure and maybe an ice pack will be put over the site to help prevent bleeding. Both samples are usually taken at the same time. These samples are sent to a lab, where they are looked at under a microscope. These tests are mostly used to tell how advanced the leukemia is before treatment starts. They can also be done during treatment to tell how well the treatment is working.

Lab tests for CML

One or more of these lab tests may be done, either to find CML or to help the doctor figure out how advanced the disease is.

Blood cell counts and blood cell exam

The complete blood count (CBC) is a test that measures the levels of different blood cells such as red blood cells, white blood cells, and platelets. Most patients with CML have too many white blood cells and sometimes not enough red blood cells or blood platelets. Even though these findings may suggest leukemia, this diagnosis usually needs to be confirmed with another blood test or a test of the bone marrow.

Blood chemistry tests

These tests measure the amount of certain chemicals in the blood, but they are not used to decide if a person has leukemia. In patients already known to have CML, these tests can help find liver or kidney problems caused by the spread of leukemia cells or by the side effects of certain drugs used for treatment. These tests also help the doctor decide whether treatment is needed to correct low or high blood levels of certain minerals.

Routine exam under a microscope

The samples of blood and bone marrow are looked at under a microscope by a doctor with special training (a pathologist). The doctor looks at the size and shape of the cells as well as other features to divide the cells into specific types. An important goal of this process is to see whether or not the cells look mature. The most immature cells are called blasts. Blasts do not work the way they should, and they can keep on forming new cells, crowding out normal, mature cells.

Genetic tests
Doctors may also use other very precise lab tests to diagnose and classify leukemia. You might hear some of the following terms used: cytochemistry, cytogenetics, FISH, and PCR. These tests are explained in our document Leukemia: Chronic Myeloid (Myelogenous).

Imaging tests
Imaging tests are ways of taking pictures of the inside of the body. They are not used to find leukemia, but they may be done to help figure out how much the disease has spread.

CT (computed tomography) scans

The CT scan is a special kind of x-ray in which a beam moves around the body, taking pictures from many angles. CT scans are not usually needed to find CML in the first place, but may be done if your doctor thinks the leukemia is growing in an organ like your spleen. CT scans take longer than regular x-rays. You need to lie still on a table while they are being done. During the test, the table moves in and out of the scanner, a ring-shaped

machine that surrounds the table. You might feel a bit confined while the pictures are being taken. Often before any pictures are taken, you may be asked to drink 1 to 2 pints of a liquid called oral contrast. This helps outline the intestine more clearly. You may also have an IV (intravenous) line through which you get a different kind of contrast dye. This helps better outline blood vessels and internal organs. The IV dye can cause some flushing (a feeling of warmth in the face or elsewhere). Some people get hives (itchy bumps). A few may have more serious allergic reactions like trouble breathing, feeling dizzy, or passing out. Before the scan, be sure to tell the doctor if you have ever had a reaction to any contrast material used for x-rays

MRI (magnetic resonance imaging)

MRI scans are very helpful in looking at the brain and spinal cord. This test uses powerful magnets and radio waves to make detailed pictures of the inside of the body. They take longer than CT scans, often up to an hour. You may need to lie inside a narrow tube for the test. This can upset people with a fear of enclosed spaces. Special, "open" MRI machines may help with this problem. The MRI machine makes loud thumps and buzzes that some people may find disturbing. Some places give you headphones to block this out.

Ultrasound
This test uses sound waves to make pictures of internal organs. Ultrasound can look for enlarged organs in the belly (abdomen). This is a very easy test to have done. For most scans, you lie on a table and a technician moves a small wand (transducer) over the part of the body being looked at, which is first smeared with a gel.

Chest x-ray
This is a plain x-ray of the chest. It isn't used to tell if someone has CML, but to look for lung problems.

Staging for chronic myeloid leukemia

Staging is the process of finding out how far a cancer has spread. Most types of cancer are staged based on the size of the tumor and how far it has spread from where it started. This system does not work for leukemias because they do not often form a solid mass or tumor. Also, leukemia starts in the bone marrow and, in many cases, it has already spread to other organs when it is found. For someone with chronic myeloid leukemia (CML), the outlook depends on other factors such as features of the cells shown in lab tests, and the results of imaging studies. This information helps guide treatment decisions.

Phases of chronic myeloid leukemia

CML is divided into 3 groups that help predict outlook. Doctors call these groups phases rather than stages. The phases are based on the number of immature white blood cells, called blasts, that are seen in the blood or bone marrow. Different groups of experts have suggested slightly different cutoffs to define the phases, but the most common system is described here.

Chronic phase
In this phase, less than 10% of the cells in the blood or bone marrow are blasts. Patients usually have rather mild symptoms (if any) and respond to standard treatments. Most patients are diagnosed in the chronic phase.

Accelerated phase
There are higher numbers of blasts (more than 10% but less than 20%) in the blood or bone marrow in this phase. These patients often have fever, poor appetite, and weight loss. They do not respond to treatment as well as during the chronic phase.

Blast phase (also called acute phase or blast crisis)

There are even more blasts (more than 20%) in the blood or bone marrow. Patients in this phase often have fever, poor appetite, and weight loss. At this point the CML acts much like an aggressive acute leukemia. Not all doctors may agree with these cutoff points for the different phases. If you have questions about what phase your CML is in, be sure to have your doctor explain it to you.

Prognostic factors for chronic myeloid leukemia

Other factors besides the phase of CML can help predict a patient's outlook for survival. These factors are called prognostic factors. They are sometimes helpful when choosing treatment. Factors that are not good and are linked to shorter survival time are called adverse prognostic factors.

Adverse prognostic factors:

Accelerated phase or blast phase Swollen spleen Areas of bone damage caused by growth of leukemia Increased number of certain types of cells in blood samples

 Very high or very low platelet counts Age 60 years or older Many chromosome changes in the CML cells Many of these factors are used in the Sokal system, which gives a score to predict outlook. It takes into account the person's age, the percent of blasts, the size of the spleen, the numbers of different kinds of cells, and other factors. Your doctor can tell you if any of these factors apply in your case and what they mean. In the past, the Sokal system and another one called the Euro score were used to divide patients into different risk groups. But it's not clear how useful these systems are now in helping to predict a person's outlook. Newer drugs like Gleevec, Sprycel, and Tasigna have led to major changes in the treatment and outlook of CML in recent years.

Survival rates for chronic myeloid leukemia

Some people with cancer may want to know the survival rates for their type of cancer. Others may not find the numbers helpful, or may even not want to know them. Whether or not you want to read about survival rates is up to you. New drugs that seem to work well to treat most cases of CML were first used in 2001. We do not yet know how long patients treated with these drugs may live. We do know that most patients who have been treated with these drugs are still alive today. One large study of patients with CML treated with Gleevec found that about 90% of patients were still alive 5 years after starting treatment. Most of these patients had normal white blood cell counts at 5 years.

How is chronic myeloid leukemia treated?

This information represents the views of the doctors and nurses serving on the American Cancer Society's Cancer Information Database Editorial Board. These views are based on their interpretation of studies published in medical journals, as well as their own professional experience. The treatment information in this document is not official policy of the Society and is not intended as medical advice to replace the expertise and judgment of your cancer care team. It is intended to help you and your family make informed decisions, together with your doctor. Your doctor may have reasons for suggesting a treatment plan different from these general treatment options. Don't hesitate to ask him or her questions about your treatment options.

This section starts with general comments about the types of treatments used for chronic myeloid leukemia (CML). After that we outline treatment options based on the phase of the disease.

Targeted therapies for chronic myeloid leukemia

In the last 10 years, new drugs that are aimed at (target) specific parts of cancer cells have become the standard treatment option for many people with cancer. Because these drugs are less likely to affect normal cells, their side effects are often not as bad as those seen with standard chemotherapy (chemo) drugs or with interferon (described below). Targeted therapies seem to work best on chronic myeloid leukemia (CML) that is still in the chronic phase, but they may also help people with more advanced disease. Imatinib (Gleevec): Imatinib is a drug that targets one special protein that almost all CML cells have. Nearly all patients respond to treatment with imatinib, and most of these responses seem to last for many years. But it doesn't seem to cure CML (make it go away and stay away without more treatment). Because of this, doctors give it to patients for as long as it seems to help. Imatinib is a pill that is taken with food, usually once a day. Many drugs can interact with imatinib and cause problems. Be sure that your doctor always has an up-to-date list of any medicines you are taking, including over-the-counter medicines, vitamins, and other supplements. Also check with your doctor before starting any new medicine to be sure it is safe. The possible side effects of imatinib are usually not as bad as those seen with standard chemo drugs or with interferon (described below). But side effects can be worse at higher doses of the drug. Common side effects are: Diarrhea Nausea Muscle pain Tiredness Itchy skin rashes Drop in the white blood cell and/or platelet count There are ways to treat most of these side effects if needed. Another common side effect is fluid build-up around the eyes, feet, or belly. In rare cases the fluid may collect in the lungs or around the heart, which can cause trouble breathing. If you are taking imatinib, tell your doctor right away if you notice sudden weight gain, trouble breathing, or fluid build-up anywhere in your body. Over time imatinib seems to stop working in some patients. This is called imatinib resistance. It seems to be caused by changes in the genes of the CML cells. Sometimes this resistance can be overcome by increasing the dose of Gleevec. But some patients need to change to a different drug, such as one of the other targeted therapies. Dasatinib (Sprycel) and Nilotinib (Tasigna): These are 2 other drugs that work much like imatinib. They were first used as a treatment for CML in patients who couldn't take

imatinib because of side effects or patients whose disease did not respond to imatinib. Later studies showed that they were better than imatinib for many patients with CML. They are now approved to be used as the first treatment for CML. These drugs are also taken as pills. They have many of the same side effects as imatinib, but can also have some different ones as well, so talk with your doctor about what you can expect. They are known to interact with other drugs, so be sure that your doctor is aware of any medicines you take, including over the counter medicines and supplements.

Interferon
Interferons are substances naturally made by some immune system cells. At one time interferon was one of the main treatments for chronic myeloid leukemia (CML), but the new targeted drugs, as described above, are now the mainstay of treatment. Interferon can be used to slow the growth of leukemia cells and is injected (given as a shot) under the skin every day for several years. Interferon can cause side effects. These include "flu-like" symptoms. Patients on this drug may also have problems with thinking and concentration. Side effects of interferon include: Muscle aches Bone pain Headaches Tiredness Nausea Vomiting Low blood cell counts Depression These problems usually get better once treatment is over. But some patients will have to stop treatment because of these side effects.

Chemotherapy for chronic myeloid leukemia

Chemotherapy (chemo) is the use of drugs to kill cancer cells. Usually the drugs are given into a vein or taken by mouth. Once the drugs enter the bloodstream, they spread throughout the body. Any drug used to treat cancer (including imatanib/Gleevec and drugs like it) can be thought of as chemo, but here chemo means standard chemo drugs, those that kill all cells that grow and divide quickly. Chemo was once the main treatment for patients with chronic myeloid leukemia (CML). But it is used much less often now that there are drugs like Gleevec. Its main role at this

time is as part of the treatment during a stem cell transplant. It may also be used by itself later in the course of disease if other treatments have stopped working.

Side effects of chemo

While chemo drugs kill cancer cells, they can also damage normal cells that are growing quickly. Possible side effects could include: Hair loss Mouth sores Loss of appetite Nausea and vomiting Increased risk of infection (from low white blood cell counts) Easy bruising or bleeding (from low blood platelet counts) Tiredness (from low red blood cell counts) These side effects are usually short-term and go away once treatment is finished. There are often ways to manage these side effects during treatment. For instance, there are drugs than can be taken along with the chemo to prevent or reduce nausea and vomiting. Drugs known as growth factors are sometimes given to keep blood counts up and reduce the chance of infection. Here are some other ways your doctor may suggest you try to avoid infection: Wash your hands often. Avoid fresh flowers and plants because they might carry mold. Make sure other people wash their hands when they come in contact with you. Stay away from large crowds and people who are sick (wearing a surgical mask offers some protection). You might be given antibiotics before you have signs of infection or at the earliest sign that you may be getting an infection. If your platelet counts are low, you might get platelet transfusions. You might also get medicines or red blood cell transfusions if low red blood cell counts are causing shortness of breath or tiredness.

Radiation treatment for chronic myeloid leukemia

Radiation treatment is the use of high energy x-rays to kill cancer cells. It is usually not part of the main treatment for patients with chronic myeloid leukemia (CML), but it is used in certain cases. For some people with an enlarged organ (such as the spleen), radiation might be used to shrink the swelling. It is also used to treat bone pain caused by growth of leukemia cells within the bone marrow. Radiation is sometimes given to the

whole body, just before a stem cell transplant (see the section, "Bone marrow or peripheral blood stem cell transplant (SCT) for chronic myeloid leukemia"). The main short-term side effects of radiation treatment are sunburn-like changes in skin over the treated area, tiredness, and a higher risk of infection.

Surgery for chronic myeloid leukemia

Because leukemia cells spread so widely throughout the bone marrow and to many other organs, surgery cannot cure this type of cancer. Rarely, an operation may be done to remove the spleen. If leukemia spreads to the spleen it can cause the spleen to become large enough to press on other organs and cause problems. If this happens, chemo or radiation may be used to try to shrink the spleen. If that doesn't solve the problem, removing the spleen can give relief, but it does not cure the leukemia. Another reason to remove the spleen is to improve blood cell counts. One of the spleen's jobs is to remove worn-out blood cells from the bloodstream. If the spleen gets too big, it may become too active in removing blood cells, leading to a shortage of red blood cells or platelets. Most people have no problem living without a spleen. But the risk for certain infections is increased, so doctors often recommend that certain vaccines be given before the spleen is removed.

Bone marrow or peripheral blood stem cell transplant for chronic myeloid leukemia
Normal doses of chemotherapy (chemo) can harm normal cells as well as cancer cells. A stem cell transplant offers a way for doctors to use the very high doses of chemo needed to kill all the leukemia cells. Although the drugs destroy the patient's bone marrow, transplanted stem cells given after the chemo can restore the blood-making bone marrow stem cells. This is called a stem cell transplant (SCT). Stem cells for transplant are most often collected from the bone marrow or from the bloodstream (in a process called apheresis). Sometimes umbilical cord stem cells are used. Bone marrow transplant was more common in the past. Now it has been largely replaced by cells taken from the bloodstream (called peripheral blood stem cell transplant or PBSCT). These blood-forming stem cells can come from either the patient or from a donor whose tissue type closely matches that of the patient. The donor may be a brother or sister or less often a person not related to the patient.

The transplant process

First, blood-forming stem cells are collected from either the patient or a matched donor. The cells are frozen and stored. Patients are then given very high doses of chemo to kill the cancer cells. They may also get total body radiation to kill any remaining cancer cells.

After treatment, the stored stem cells are given to the patient into a vein like a blood transfusion. Then the waiting begins as the stem cells settle in the patient's bone marrow and start to grow and produce blood cells. People who get a donor's stem cells are given drugs to prevent rejection as well as other medicines to prevent infections. Usually within a couple of weeks after the stem cells are put in (infused) they begin making new white blood cells. Then they begin making platelets, and finally, red blood cells. Patients having SCT have to be kept away from germs (in protective isolation) as much as possible until their white blood cell count is at a safe level. They may be able to leave the hospital when their white blood cell count is near 1,000. Even after they go home, they will be seen in the outpatient clinic almost every day for many weeks.

"Mini-transplants"
Most patients over the age of 55 can't withstand a regular transplant that uses high doses of chemo. But some may be able to have what is called a "mini-transplant" (also called a non-myeloablative transplant or reduced-intensity transplant). In this type of transplant, patients get lower doses of chemo and radiation which do not destroy the all cells in their bone marrow. They then get the donor stem cells. These new cells enter the body and form a new immune system, which sees the leukemia cells as foreign and attacks them (called a "graft-versus-leukemia" effect). This approach is not often used in CML.

Side effects of SCT

Side effects from a stem cell transplant can be divided into early and long-term effects. Early side effects: Early side effects are about the same as those of any other type of high-dose chemo low blood cell counts, nausea, vomiting, hair loss, mouth and throat sores. They are caused by damage to the bone marrow and other tissues of the body that grow and divide fast. One of the most common and serious side effects is the increased risk of infection. Antibiotics are often given for a time, even before there are any signs of infection, to try to keep this from happening. Long-term side effects: Some side effects can go on for a long time. And sometimes they don't show up until years after the transplant. Long-term side effects could include the following: Graft-versus-host disease (see below) Radiation damage to the lungs, causing shortness of breath Damage to the ovaries causing infertility and loss of menstrual periods Damage to the thyroid gland that causes problems with the way the body uses energy Cataracts (damage to the lens of the eye)

 Bone damage, which can be so bad that part of the bone and joint must be replaced Graft-versus-host disease or GVHD is the main problem of a donor stem cell transplant. It happens when the immune system of the patient is taken over by that of the donor. The donor's immune system then begins reacting against the patient's other tissues and organs. Symptoms of GVHD can include weakness, dry mouth, nausea, severe skin rashes with itching, and severe diarrhea. The liver and lungs may also be damaged. The patient may also become tired and have aching muscles. If bad enough, GVHD can be fatal. Drugs that weaken the immune system are often given to try to keep GVHD under control.

Some things to keep in mind

Before modern targeted therapy drugs like imatinib (Gleevec), SCT was commonly used to treat CML. Before drugs like Gleevec were available, less than half of patients lived more than 5 years after diagnosis. Now, these drugs are the standard treatment, and transplants are being used less often. Still, a SCT from a donor offers the only proven chance to cure this disease, and many doctors will recommend a transplant for younger patients. Results seem to be best when the stem cell donor is a well-matched brother or sister. Results are also better when the transplant is done earlier in the course of the disease. Transplant may also be recommended if the CML is not responding well to the new drugs. Stem cell transplantation is a complex and risky treatment. It is important that it be done at a hospital where the staff is experienced with the process. Some transplant programs may not have experience in certain transplants, especially those from unrelated donors. Stem cell transplantation also costs a lot (more than $100,000) and often means a long hospital stay. You should find out what your insurance will cover and what you might have to pay before choosing to have a transplant. For more information on stem cell transplants, see our document, Bone Marrow and Peripheral Blood Stem Cell Transplant.

Treatment of chronic myeloid leukemia by phase

Treatment choices for people with chronic myeloid leukemia (CML) depend on the phase of the disease, their age, other prognostic factors, and whether there is a matched donor.

Chronic phase
The standard treatment for chronic phase CML is either imatinib (Gleevec) or another targeted therapy drug like it. Most often, imatinib is the first drug tried. Some people in chronic phase may be treated with a stem cell transplant from a matched donor. While a stem cell transplant is the only treatment proven to cure CML, it does have some drawbacks. A matched donor must be found, and it doesn't work in all cases. It also involves the use of high-dose chemotherapy (chemo) and often radiation, which can cause severe side effects and can even be fatal.

Watching the patient's blood and bone marrow for a response is a very important part of treatment with a targeted therapy drug. Blood counts are watched closely usually about every 3 to 6 months for the first 2 years. About 7 out of 10 patients on imatinib will have a good response (normal blood counts and no signs of the Philadelphia chromosome) after about a year. This rate is even higher for patients on the other targeted drugs. But it's doesn't seem like these people are being cured. In studies, the CML often came back if the drug is stopped. For now, doctors recommend that people keep taking the drug. The goal of treatment with targeted therapy is a complete response. If this doesn't happen, or if the leukemia gets worse, there are several options. Treatment of CML if the first targeted drug doesnt work: Some patients stop responding to their drug treatment over time and a few don't respond at all. Options then could include: Increasing the dose of the targeted drug. Switching to one of the other targeted drugs (like from imatinib to dasatinib/Sprycel or nilotinib/Tasigna). This helps many people for whom the first drug is not working. For those who can't take these drugs or for whom they are not working, interferon or chemo may be an option. Stem cell transplant may be an option, especially for younger people who have a donor with a matching tissue type. Treatment of CML after a stem cell transplant: For some people who have a stem cell transplant, their leukemia doesnt go away completely. If they do not have graft-versushost disease (GVHD), doctors may try to get their new immune system to fight the leukemia. One way to do this is by slowly lowering the doses or stopping the immune suppressing drugs they are on. This is done very carefully to try to get an anti-leukemia effect without getting too much GVHD. Patients who do have GVHD after a stem cell transplant are often treated with imatinib or another targeted therapy drug.

Accelerated phase
During this phase, leukemia cells begin to build up in the body more quickly. Treatment choices depend on what treatments the patient has already had and are much like those used in the chronic phase. Higher doses of the targeted therapy drug being used may help. The patient may instead be switched to another targeted therapy drug. For the most part, patients in this phase are less likely to have a long remission with any treatment. About 2 out of 10 patients have some response to chemo, but it often lasts less than 6 months. A stem cell transplant may be the best option for most patients who are young enough. About 20% to 40% of patients in this phase are alive several years after a stem cell transplant. Most doctors prefer that the leukemia be in remission before starting the transplant procedure. To achieve this, chemo will often be used. In some cases, a stem cell transplant using the patient's own stem cells may be an option to try to get the CML back into the chronic phase, but it is not likely to result in a cure.

Blast phase
In this phase of CML, the leukemia cells are more abnormal. The disease acts more like an acute leukemia. For people with blast phase CML who haven't had treatment already, high-dose imatinib may be helpful. But it works in a smaller number of people and for a shorter length of time than when used earlier in the course of the disease. The newer targeted agents (dasatinib and nilotinib) may work better, but the disease still comes back after a while. Patients who respond to these drugs may want to think about a stem cell transplant, if possible. Most often, the leukemia cells act like cells of acute myeloid leukemia (AML), but often they don't respond to the chemo drugs used to treat AML. About 1 out of 5 patients will respond, but this response is usually short-lived. If this does occur, it may offer a chance to think about some type of stem cell transplant. A small number of patients in this phase have blast cells that look like those of acute lymphocytic leukemia (ALL). These cells respond better to chemo and about half of these patients may have a remission. Stem cell transplant from a donor rarely works for blast phase CML. But it is more likely to work if the CML can be brought back to the chronic phase before the transplant. Treatment to relieve symptoms (called palliative treatment) is an important part of care for patients in this phase. Radiation treatment can help bone pain, and chemo may relieve some symptoms for a few months. In many cases, the effects of CML that has spread to the nervous system can be relieved by chemo or by radiation to the brain. Clinical trials are another option.

Clinical trials for chronic myeloid leukemia

You may have had to make a lot of decisions since you've been told you have cancer. One of the most important decisions you will make is deciding which treatment is best for you. You may have heard about clinical trials being done for your type of cancer. Or maybe someone on your health care team has mentioned a clinical trial to you. Clinical trials are carefully controlled research studies that are done with patients who volunteer for them. They are done to get a closer look at promising new treatments or procedures. If you would like to take part in a clinical trial, you should start by asking your doctor if your clinic or hospital conducts clinical trials. You can also call our clinical trials matching service for a list of clinical trials that meet your medical needs. You can reach this service at 1-800-303-5691 or on our Web site at www.cancer.org/clinicaltrials. You can also get a list of current clinical trials by calling the National Cancer Institute's Cancer Information Service toll-free at 1-800-4-CANCER (1-800-422-6237) or by visiting the NCI clinical trials Web site at www.cancer.gov/clinicaltrials. There are requirements you must meet to take part in any clinical trial. If you do qualify for a clinical trial, it is up to you whether or not to enter (enroll in) it.

Clinical trials are one way to get state-of-the art cancer treatment. They are the only way for doctors to learn better methods to treat cancer. Still, they are not right for everyone. You can get a lot more information on clinical trials, in our document called Clinical Trials: What You Need to Know. You can read it on our Web site or call our toll-free number and have it sent to you.

Complementary and alternative therapies for chronic myeloid leukemia

When you have cancer you are likely to hear about ways to treat your cancer or relieve symptoms that your doctor hasn't mentioned. Everyone from friends and family to Internet groups and Web sites may offer ideas for what might help you. These methods can include vitamins, herbs, and special diets, or other methods such as acupuncture or massage, to name a few.

What are complementary and alternative therapies?

It can be confusing because not everyone uses these terms the same way, and they are used to refer to many different methods. We use complementary to refer to treatments that are used along with your regular medical care. Alternative treatments are used instead of a doctor's medical treatment. Complementary methods: Most complementary treatment methods are not offered as cures for cancer. Mainly, they are used to help you feel better. Some examples of methods that are used along with regular treatment are meditation to reduce stress, acupuncture to help relieve pain, or peppermint tea to relieve nausea. Some complementary methods are known to help, while others have not been tested. Some have been proven not be helpful, and a few are even harmful. Alternative treatments: Alternative treatments may be offered as cancer cures. These treatments have not been proven safe and effective in clinical trials. Some of these methods may be harmful, or have life-threatening side effects. But the biggest danger in most cases is that you may lose the chance to be helped by standard medical treatment. Delays or interruptions in your medical treatments may give the cancer more time to grow and make it less likely that treatment will help.

Finding out more

It is easy to see why people with cancer think about alternative methods. You want to do all you can to fight the cancer, and the idea of a treatment with no side effects sounds great. Sometimes medical treatments like chemotherapy can be hard to take, or they may no longer be working. But the truth is that most of these alternative methods have not been tested and proven to work in treating cancer. As you think about your options, here are 3 important steps you can take:

 Look for "red flags" that suggest fraud. Does the method promise to cure all or most cancers? Are you told not to have regular medical treatments? Is the treatment a "secret" that requires you to visit certain providers or travel to another country? Talk to your doctor or nurse about any method you are thinking of using. Contact us at 1-800-227-2345 to learn more about complementary and alternative methods in general and to find out about the specific methods you are looking at.

The choice is yours

Decisions about how to treat or manage your cancer are always yours to make. If you want to use a non-standard treatment, learn all you can about the method and talk to your doctor about it. With good information and the support of your health care team, you may be able to safely use the methods that can help you while avoiding those that could be harmful.

What are some questions I can ask my doctor about chronic myeloid leukemia?
As you cope with cancer and cancer treatment, you need to have honest, open talks with your doctor. Feel free to ask any question that's on your mind, no matter how small it might seem. Here are some questions you might want to ask. Be sure to add your own questions as you think of them. Nurses, social workers, and other members of the treatment team may also be able to answer many of your questions. What phase is my chronic myeloid leukemia (CML) in? What treatment choices do I have? Which treatment do you recommend, and why? What side effects are there to the treatments you recommend? What can I do to be ready for treatment? How often will you test my blood or bone marrow to see how my treatment is working? Should we think about a stem cell transplant at this time? What are the chances that the leukemia will come back once I am in remission? Add your own questions below:

Moving on after treatment for chronic myeloid leukemia

For a few people with chronic myeloid leukemia (CML), treatment may remove or destroy the cancer. Completing treatment can be both stressful and exciting. You may be relieved to finish treatment, but find it hard not to worry about cancer coming back. (When cancer comes back after treatment, it is called recurrence.) This is a very common concern in people who have had cancer. It may take a while before your fears lessen. But it may help to know that many cancer survivors have learned to live with this uncertainty and are living full lives. Our document, Living With Uncertainty: The Fear of Cancer Recurrence gives more detailed information on this. For most patients with CML, treatment doesn't end and they stay on stay on some type of treatment indefinitely. Often, the treatment keeps the CML in check, but it doesn't seem to cure this disease. Being on long-term treatment can be stressful. It has its own type of uncertainty. Our document, When Cancer Doesn't Go Away, talks more about this.

Follow-up care
Even if there are no signs of the disease, your doctors will still want to watch you closely. It is very important to go to all of your follow-up doctor visits. During these, your doctors will ask questions about any problems you may have and may do exams and lab tests to look for signs of CML and treatment side effects. Almost any cancer treatment can have side effects. Some may last for a few weeks to months, but others can last the rest of your life. This is the time for you to talk to your cancer care team about any changes or problems you notice and any questions or concerns you have. It is important to keep health insurance. Tests and doctor visits cost a lot, and even though no one wants to think of their cancer coming back, this could happen. Should your cancer come back, our document, When Your Cancer Comes Back: Cancer Recurrence can give you information on how to manage and cope with this phase of your treatment.

Seeing a new doctor

At some point after your cancer is found and treated, you may find yourself in the office of a new doctor. It is important that you be able to give your new doctor the exact details of your diagnosis and treatment. Make sure you have this information handy and always keep copies for yourself: A copy of your pathology report from any biopsy or surgery If you had surgery, a copy of your operative report

 If you were in the hospital, a copy of the discharge summary that the doctor wrote when you were sent home from the hospital If you had radiation treatment, a summary of the type and dose of radiation and when and where it was given If you had chemo or targeted therapies, a list of your drugs, drug doses, and when you took them

Lifestyle changes after treatment for chronic myeloid leukemia

You can't change the fact that you have had cancer. What you can change is how you live the rest of your life making choices to help you stay healthy and feel as well as you can. This can be a time to look at your life in new ways. Maybe you are thinking about how to improve your health over the long term. Some people even start during cancer treatment.

Making healthier choices

For many people, having cancer helps them focus on their health in ways they may not have thought much about in the past. Are there things you could do that might make you healthier? Maybe you could try to eat better or get more exercise. Maybe you could cut down on the alcohol, or give up tobacco. Even things like keeping your stress level under control may help. Now is a good time to think about making changes that can have positive effects for the rest of your life. You will feel better and you will also be healthier. You can start by working on those things that worry you most. Get help with those that are harder for you. For instance, if you are thinking about quitting smoking and need help, call us at 1-800-227-2345.

Eating better
Eating right can be hard for anyone, but it can get even tougher during and after cancer treatment. Treatment may change your sense of taste. Nausea can be a problem. You may not feel like eating and lose weight when you don't want to. Or you may have gained weight that you can't seem to lose. All of these things can be a challenge. If treatment caused weight changes or eating or taste problems, do the best you can and keep in mind that these problems most often get better over time. You may find it helps to eat small portions every 2 to 3 hours until you feel better. You may also want to ask your cancer team about seeing a dietitian an expert who can give you ideas on how to deal with these treatment side effects. One of the best things you can do after cancer treatment is put healthy eating habits into place. You may be surprised at the long-term benefits of some simple changes, like eating a greater variety of healthy foods. Getting to and staying at a healthy weight, eating a

healthy diet, and limiting your alcohol intake may lower your risk for a number of types of cancer, as well as having many other health benefits.

Rest, fatigue, work and exercise

Feeling tired (fatigue) is a very common problem during and after cancer treatment. This is not a normal type of tiredness but a "bone-weary" exhaustion that doesn't get better with rest. For some people, fatigue lasts a long time after treatment and can keep them from staying active. But exercise can actually help reduce fatigue and the sense of depression that sometimes comes with feeling so tired. If you are very tired, though, you will need to balance activity with rest. It is OK to rest when you need to. To learn more about fatigue, please see our documents, Fatigue in People With Cancer and Anemia in People With Cancer. If you were very ill or weren't able to do much during treatment, it is normal that your fitness, staying power, and muscle strength declined. You need to find an exercise plan that fits your own needs. Talk with your health care team before starting. Get their input on your exercise plans. Then try to get an exercise buddy so that you're not doing it alone. Exercise can improve your physical and emotional health. It improves your cardiovascular (heart and circulation) fitness. Along with a good diet, it will help you get to and stay at a healthy weight. It makes your muscles stronger. It reduces fatigue. It lowers anxiety and depression. It can make you feel generally happier. It can help you feel better about yourself. Long term, we know that getting regular physical activity plays a role in helping to lower the risk of some cancers, as well as having other health benefits.

How does having chronic myeloid leukemia affect your emotional health?
Once your treatment ends, you may be surprised by the flood of emotions you go through. This happens to a lot of people. You may find that you think about the effect of your cancer on things like your family, friends, and career. Money may be a concern as the medical bills pile up. Or you may begin to think about the changes that cancer has brought to your relationship with your spouse or partner. Unexpected issues may also cause concern for instance, as you get better and need fewer doctor visits, you will see your health care team less often. This can be hard for some people.

This is a good time to look for emotional and social support. You need people you can turn to. Support can come in many forms: family, friends, cancer support groups, church or spiritual groups, online support communities, or private counselors. The cancer journey can feel very lonely. You don't need to go it alone. Your friends and family may feel shut out if you decide not include them. Let them in and let in anyone else who you feel may help. If you aren't sure who can help, call your American Cancer Society at 1-800-227-2345 and we can put you in touch with a group or resource that may work for you. You can't change the fact that you have had cancer. What you can change is how you live the rest of your life making healthy choices and helping your body and mind feel well.

If treatment for chronic myeloid leukemia stops working

If your leukemia keeps growing or comes back after one treatment, often another treatment will help. Over time, though, the leukemia will start to resist treatment. At this time you may have to weigh the possible benefits of a new treatment against the downsides, like treatment side effects and clinic visits. This is likely to be the hardest time in your battle with cancer when you have tried everything within reason and it's just not working anymore. Your doctor may offer you new treatment, but you will need to talk about whether the treatment is likely to improve your health or change your outlook for survival. No matter what you decide to do, it is important for you to feel as good as possible. Make sure you are asking for and getting treatment for pain, nausea, or any other problems you may have. This type of treatment is called "palliative" treatment. It helps relieve symptoms but is not meant to cure the cancer. At some point you may want to think about hospice care. Most of the time it is given at home. Your cancer may be causing symptoms or problems that need to be treated. Hospice focuses on your comfort. You should know that having hospice care doesn't mean you can't have treatment for the problems caused by your cancer or other health issues. It just means that the purpose of your care is to help you live life as fully as possible and to feel as well as you can. You can learn more about this in our document, Hospice Care. Staying hopeful is important, too. Your hope for a cure may not be as bright, but there is still hope for good times with family and friends -- times that are filled with happiness and meaning. Pausing at this time in your cancer treatment gives you a chance to focus on the most important things in your life. Now is the time to do some things you've always wanted to do and to stop doing the things you no longer want to do. Though the cancer may be beyond your control, there are still choices you can make.

What's new in chronic myeloid leukemia research?

Many studies of chronic myeloid leukemia (CML) are being done in labs and in clinical trials around the world.

Genetics of CML
Scientists are making progress in learning how changes in a person's DNA can cause normal bone marrow cells to change into leukemia. They are learning why these cancer cells grow too fast, live too long, and don't grow into normal blood cells. In recent years they have learned a lot about why cancer cells don't die off like normal cells. This information is being used to develop many new drugs.

Sorting out the targeted drugs

Imatinib (Gleevec) has now been in use for years and has been shown to work very well, but studies have shown that dasatinib and nilotinib seem to work at least as well for patients who are just starting treatment. Which of drug is the best treatment to use first is still being studied. Another approach would be to combine 2 or more of these drugs to treat CML. This is also being studied.

Can treatment be stopped?

A recent study looked to see if patients who had a complete molecular response (CMR) to imatinib could safely stop drug treatment (patients who have a complete molecular response have no signs of CML even with the most sensitive testing). Results showed that a little less than half of the patients who stopped were still without any signs of disease (and still in CMR) 12 months later. Also, imatinib worked again for the patients whose CML came back. More research is needed to see which patients can safely stop taking their treatment for CML.

Combining the targeted drugs with other treatments

Imatinib or other similar drugs used alone don't help everyone. Studies are now being done to see if combining these drugs with other treatments like chemo, interferon, or cancer vaccines (see below) might work better than anyone treatment alone. Studies are also looking at whether targeted drugs might be used in stem cell transplants.

New drugs for CML

Newer drugs that are aimed at the gene changes linked to CML are also being tested. Further studies of these drugs are being done.

Cancer vaccines
Because leukemia cells are a kind of foreign cell, it is possible to get the body to take action against them. Researchers are looking at ways to do this with cancer vaccines a substance injected into the body that boosts the immune system and causes it to attack certain cells. Some vaccines are now being studied for use against CML. More research into how to make and use vaccines is being done, too.

To learn more about chronic myeloid leukemia

From your American Cancer Society
The following information may also be helpful to you. These materials may be ordered from our toll-free number. Leukemia-Chronic Myeloid (also in Spanish) After Diagnosis: A Guide for Patients and Families (also in Spanish) Anemia in People With Cancer Leukemia: Acute Myeloid (Myelogenous) (also in Spanish) Bone Marrow and Peripheral Blood Stem Cell Transplant Caring for the Patient With Cancer at Home (also in Spanish) Fatigue in People With Cancer Living With Uncertainty: The Fear of Cancer Recurrence Understanding Chemotherapy: A Guide for Patients and Families (also in Spanish) When Your Cancer Comes Back: Cancer Recurrence Your American Cancer Society also has books that you might find helpful. Call us at 1800-227-2345 or visit our bookstore online at cancer.org/bookstore to find out about costs or to place an order.

National organizations and Web sites*

Along with the American Cancer Society, other sources of information and support include: Caitlin Raymond International Registry (for unrelated bone marrow transplants) Toll-free number: 1-800-726-2824 Web site: www.crir.org

Leukemia & Lymphoma Society Toll-free number: 1-800-955-4572 Internet address: www.lls.org Leukemia Links Web site: www.acor.org/leukemia National Bone Marrow Transplant Link (nbmtLink) Toll-free number: 1-800-LINK-BMT (1-800-546-5268) Web site: www.nbmtlink.org National Cancer Institute Toll-free number1-800-4-CANCER (1-800-422-6237) Web site: www.cancer.gov National Marrow Donor Program Toll-free number: 1-800-MARROW2 (1-800-627-7692) Web site: www.marrow.org
*Inclusion on this list does not imply endorsement by the American Cancer Society.

No matter who you are we can help, contact us any time, day or night, for information and support. Call us at 1-800-227-2345 or visit www.cancer.org.

Last Medical Review: 6/14/2012 Last Revised: 6/14/2012 2012 Copyright American Cancer Society