Research into chronic myeloid leukaemia (CML)
Researchers around the world are looking at improving the treatment of chronic myeloid leukaemia (CML).
Go to Cancer Research UK’s clinical trials database if you are looking for a trial for CML in the UK. You need to talk to your specialist if there are any trials that you think you might be able to take part in.
Some of the trials on this page have now stopped recruiting people. It takes time before the results are available. This is because the trial team follow the patients for a period of time and collect and analyse the results. We have included this ongoing research to give examples of the type of research being carried out in CML.
Research and clinical trials
All cancer treatments must be fully researched before they can be used for everyone. This is so we can be sure that:
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they work
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they work better than the treatments already available
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they are safe
To make sure the research is accurate, each trial has certain entry conditions for who can take part. These are different for each trial.
Hospitals do not take part in every clinical trial. Some trials are only done in a small number of hospitals, or in one area of the country. You may need to travel quite far if you take part in these trials.
Treatment
The main treatment for CML is a group of targeted cancer drug called tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs).
Targeted cancer drugs
Targeted cancer drugs work by ‘targeting’ the differences that help a cancer cell to survive and grow. The main treatment for CML is a group of targeted cancer drugs called 
.
TKIs block chemical messengers (enzymes) called tyrosine kinases. Tyrosine kinases help to send growth signals in cells, so blocking them stops the cells growing and dividing.
Doctors currently treat CML with the following TKIs:
- imatinib
- nilotinib
- dasatinib
- bosutinib
- ponatinib
- asciminib
Researchers continue to look into these types of cancer drugs to improve treatment. They are:
- trying new TKIs such as vodobatinib and olverembatinib
- combining nilotinib with a type of
immunotherapy drug called peginterferon. Researchers think people having this combination may get a better response to treatment - finding out if asciminib is better than some of the other TKIs as a first treatment for CML
- trying ponatinib in children and young people under 18 years old
- learning more about the dose and side effects
Stem cell transplants
A small number of people have a as part of your treatment for CML. With CML you have a transplant using stem cells or bone marrow from someone else. This is called a .
Recovery after a stem cell transplant
The doesn’t work properly for several months after a transplant. It can take a long time for people to recover and they are more at risk of getting an infection.
People living with blood cancers often have many times due to their increased risk of infection. Antibiotics can reduce the number of ‘good’ bacteria in the digestive system which reduces the variety of gut . Research is looking at treatment to bring back the ‘good’ bacteria to support a person’s immune system and help recovery.
Graft versus host disease (GvHD)
Graft versus host disease (GvHD) is a possible complication of a stem cell transplant from another person. GvHD happens when particular types of (T cells) in the donated stem cells attack your own cells. This is because the donated cells (the graft) see your body cells (the host) as foreign and attack them.
A trial is comparing with 2 newer combinations of treatment to see if this helps prevent GvHD.
Improving stem cell transplants
A hospital in Birmingham is looking at people who are having a stem cell transplant and people who are donors of stem cell transplant. They are looking at blood samples before and after a transplant. They are also taking blood from donors.
The researchers want to look further at these samples to better understand stem cell transplants. They hope they can improve the success of treatment and ways to help prevent or lower the side effects.
