Patient perceptions of treatment-free remission in chronic myeloid leukemia

Abstract

Around half of patients with chronic myeloid leukemia (CML) who achieve a stable deep molecular response would remain in treatment-free remission (TFR) if their tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs) were stopped. TFR is increasingly becoming a goal of treatment. Eighty-seven patients answered a survey exploring patient perceptions of TFR, incorporating CML-specific factors (disease history, treatment toxicity, and adherence) and questions concerning health beliefs. 81% of participants (95% CI: 72%–89%) indicated that they would be willing to attempt TFR. No demographic or CML-related variable in the survey was significantly associated with willingness. In qualitative analysis, the commonest moti..