How long can patients with chronic myeloid leukemia (CML) live?
Aug 18, 2021
Source: Cainiu Health
Dr. Xing Jian
Introduction
The chronic phase typically lasts approximately 1–4 years. The accelerated phase usually persists for about 6 months to 1 year. Finally, the disease progresses to the terminal (blast) phase, during which it may transform into acute myeloid leukemia (AML) or acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL). Disease progression in this phase is rapid, and patients face a risk of death within weeks to months—or even days.
Chronic myeloid leukemia (CML) is a group of malignant disorders characterized by the clonal proliferation of granulocytes. CML is clinically divided into three phases: the chronic phase, the accelerated phase, and the blast crisis (or blast phase). The chronic phase typically lasts approximately 1–4 years naturally; the accelerated phase may persist for about 6–12 months; and the disease ultimately progresses to the terminal blast crisis phase, which may transform into acute myeloid leukemia (AML) or acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL).
Disease progression in the blast crisis phase is rapid, with mortality risk occurring within weeks or even days. Therefore, overall survival depends largely on the duration of the chronic phase and, critically, on whether the blast crisis can be effectively controlled—both factors significantly influence prognosis and survival rates.
