Ponatinib Treatment in CML and Ph+ ALL Patients: Real-Life Data from the Czech Registries

Patients with newly diagnosed chronic myeloid leukemia (CML) frequently receive imatinib. Although initial response rates are high, imatinib fails in up to 40% of patients because of disease resistance, frequently because of BCR-ABL kinase domain mutations, or side effects. Patients who discontinue imatinib may have a response to second-generation tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs). Ponatinib (PON) is a potent oral TKI active against unmutated and mutated BCR-ABL kinase. PON is indicated also in Philadelphia chromosome-positive acute lymphoblastic leukemia (Ph+ ALL) patients. Clinical activity of PON was confirmed in the phase II PACE trial, however lack of real world data is evident.