Quality of life of chronic myelogenous leukemia patients following BCR-ABL inhibitor therapy : A multicenter study in Nara Japan using SF-8

[Abstract] Chronic myelogenous leukemia (CML) is caused by chromosomal translocation t (9;22) (q34;q11.2) forming a BCR-ABL fusion gene. Treatment of CML patients with tyrosine kinase inhibitor (TKI) led to a marked improvement in the survival rate. However, when treating CML patients, adverse events of TKI may reduce the QOL. When we were able to use only Imatinib, we continued to use despite adverse events. However, we can now use Dasatinib, Nilotinib, Bosutinib, and Ponatinib. Therefore, to examine the effects of TKI on the QOL of CML patients, we conducted a QOL survey at three major facilities in Nara Prefecture. For the QOL survey, we used SF-8. The results of the survey showed that there was no difference between the pretreatment QOL score and QOL score at the time of the survey. However, the QOL scores showed improved physical functioning, bodily pain, vitality, role-emotional, and mental health summary scores in the TKI switch group. The main reason for switching TKI was adverse events. Therefore, these adverse events reduce the QOL of CML patients. Switching TKI improved the QOL. Presently, five TKI are available, expanding the range of options. When adverse events appear, switching TKI and adverse event management are also important to maintain a patient’s QOL and continue the therapy.