Epidemiology

Data from a European blast phase registry (n=240; blast phase defined as ≥20% blasts or extramedullary disease; 2015-2023 data) reported a median overall survival of 23.8 months (median follow-up 27.8 months).[6]

Median overall survival of approximately 12 months was reported in one retrospective chart review of patients in blast crisis (n=477; blast phase defined as ≥30% blasts or extramedullary disease; 1997-2016 data) who were treated with a tyrosine kinase inhibitor at some point during the course of their disease.[7]

Chronic myeloid leukaemia (CML)

CML is usually diagnosed in its chronic form (as opposed to its accelerated or blast forms), which, if untreated, will progress to fatal blastic disease within 3-5 years.[8]​ Less than 5% of CML patients present in an advanced phase, although some patients will progress to accelerated or blast phase despite treatment.[9]​ In one study, 10-year cumulative incidence of transformation to the blast phase was 5.8% for patients with chronic-phase CML treated with imatinib as initial therapy.[10]

The median age at diagnosis of CML in the US is 66 years, although the disease can occur at any age.[11]​ In developing countries, median age at diagnosis is <50 years.[12]​ In the US, CML is more common in males compared with females (2.5 vs. 1.5, respectively, per 100,000 people).[11]

In the US in 2024, it is estimated that there will be 9280 new cases of CML, and 1280 deaths associated with CML.[11]​ 

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