OBJECTIVES

: The incidence of chronic myeloid leukemia (CML)is higher in developed countries. Most cancers are acute illnesses with short treatment duration. In CML, patients can take certain oral drugs and remain on treatment for many years.

The objective of this study was to assess and compare the risk and patterns of treatment among prevalent cases of CML in China, United States.

METHODS

: To estimate the respective sizes of the prevalent population we modeled the incidence of CML based on cause-specific and background survival. The incidence data was collated from the respective national cancer registries.

To estimate treatment patterns, we fielded a survey among hematologist oncologists practicing for at least two years in the USA and China. Surveys were fielded from January to February 2020.

The survey asked, for prevalent patients, what percentage were treated with anti-neoplastic drug treatment as a 1^st, 2^nd line and 3^rd line and higher therapy.

RESULTS : The 1^st line percent drug treated among prevalent CML is 46% and 41% in the USA and China respectively. The 2^nd line percent drug treated among prevalent CML is 26% and 28% in the USA and China respectively. The 3^rd line plus percent drug treated among prevalent CML is 17% and 15% in the USA and China respectively. . In the USA and China 11% and 16% receive no therapy respectively.

CONCLUSIONS

: No substantial difference is seen in the percent treated for CML between the USA and China. Among the prevalent CML the percent drug treated in 1^st line is higher in the USA than China. For 2^nd line and 3^rd line plus therapy the percent treated is similar, albeit percent treated is little higher in China in 2^nd line and it is slightly higher in the USA for 3^rd line plus therapy.

The proportion who do not receive any therapy is higher in China.