Maintenance tyrosine kinase inhibitor (TKI) therapy after allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT) in patients with high-risk Philadelphia chromosome-positive (Ph+) leukemia is possible, may reduce relapses, could improve outcomes, according to a retrospective analysis involving 26 individuals.

Investigators looked at allograft recipients with accelerated or blast phase chronic myeloid leukemia (n=9), or Ph+ acute lymphoblastic leukemia (n=17). TKI therapy was started a median 100 days after transplant, and lasted a median of 16 months. Participants were followed for median of 3.6 years. Among the results:

• The 5-year relapse-free survival in all patients was 61%.

• Those who relapsed were successfully salvaged and remain disease-free.

• 5-year overall survival was nearly 80%.

Citation: DeFilipp Z, Langston A, Chen Z, et al. Does post-transplant maintenance therapy with tyrosine kinase inhibitors improve outcomes of high-risk Philadelphia chromosome-positive leukemia? [Published online ahead of print May 5, 2016]. Clin Lymphoma Myeloma Leuk. doi:http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.clml.2016.04.017.