With so many tyrosine kinase inhibitors available why is the mortality rate of leukemia patients so high within a few months of diagnosis?

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  Fatih Uckun · University of Southern California

  In children, the most common form of leukemia is the so called acute lymphoblastic leukemia. Leukemia free survival and potentially cure is achieved in >80% of the patients. The mortality rate is not high within a few months of diagnosis as stated. In adults, chronic lymphocytic leukemia is not associated with a high mortality within a few months of diagnosis either. I can go down the list but generally the mortality rates are not high within a few months. Effective frontline treatments do not include tyrosine kinase inhibitors except in chronic myeloid leukemia and possibly Ph+ acute lymphoblastic leukemia because only in these particular forms of leukemia is a particular kinase validated as a molecular target. In summary, the premise of your question is incorrect (thank God !).

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  In children, the most common form of leukemia is the so called acute lymphoblastic leukemia. Leukemia free survival and potentially cure is achieved in >80% of the patients. The mortality rate is not high within a few months of diagnosis as stated. In adults, chronic lymphocytic leukemia is not associated with a high mortality within a few months of diagnosis either. I can go down the list but generally the mortality rates are not high within a few months. Effective frontline treatments do not include tyrosine kinase inhibitors except in chronic myeloid leukemia and possibly Ph+ acute lymphoblastic leukemia because only in these particular forms of leukemia is a particular kinase validated as a molecular target. In summary, the premise of your question is incorrect (thank God !).

  Oct 30, 2012