Purpose: Explore molecular monitoring patterns of patients with chronic myeloid leukemia (CML) on tyrosine kinase inhibitors therapy in China and identify variables associated with monitoring patterns.
Methods: Non-interventional, cross-sectional study using questionnaires distributed to persons with CML and answered anonymously.
Results: A total of 819 respondents in chronic phase outside clinical trials were evaluable; 477 respondents (58 %) were male. Median age was 41 years (range 18-88 years). A total of 609 (74 %) respondents received a TKI <1 year after diagnosis and 665 (81 %) were on a branded TKI. Median TKI therapy duration was 3 years (range <1-13 years). A total of 255 (31 %) respondents had a molecular test every 3 months, and 280 (34 %), every 6 months. Multivariate analyses showed that older age, starting TKI therapy >1 year after diagnosis and generic TKI use were associated with deviation from recommended monitoring frequency (both every 3 months and every 3 or 6 months). In addition, TKI therapy duration >3 years and imatinib use were associated with under-testing every 3 months. Rural household registration was associated with less testing at every 3 or 6 months. The most commonly stated reasons for under-testing were no requirement by physician (60 %), followed by cost (19 %), no necessity (10 %) and no eligible lab nearby (10 %).
Conclusions: Many Chinese with chronic phase CML receiving TKI therapy do not have response monitoring compliant with recommended guidelines. Older age, financial burden and physician non-adherence to guideline recommendations are associated with low monitoring frequencies.
Keywords: BCR–ABL; Chronic myeloid leukemia; Guidelines; Imatinib; Molecular monitoring; Tyrosine kinase inhibitors.