Introduction: This study aimed to analyze the survival outcomes and adverse events (AEs) associated with the long-term use of tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs) and to assess health-related quality of life (HRQoL) in patients with chronic myeloid leukemia (CML).
Methods: Medical records of 345 patients with CML treated with at least one type of TKI were retrospectively reviewed.
Results: No significant differences in survival were observed based on the number of different TKIs the patients received (p = 0.301) or the sequence of TKIs used (p = 0.770). Among 182 patients treated with nilotinib, 25 experienced cardiovascular events (CVEs). After 10 years of nilotinib treatment, CVEs occurred in 55.2% of patients with ≥ 2 vascular risk factors. Pleural effusion was observed in 27 of 78 dasatinib-treated patients. In terms of HRQoL, patients treated with nilotinib generally reported higher satisfaction levels than did those treated with imatinib or dasatinib. When stratified by age or duration of TKI treatment, patients aged < 60 years or those with a treatment duration of ≥ 1 year exhibited better satisfaction levels.
Conclusion: Survival outcomes were not affected by history of TKI treatment. Nilotinib is favorable for HRQoL but increases the risk of serious CVEs in patients with vascular risk factors.
S. Karger AG, Basel.