Summaries of Key CML Publications
Read Professor Hughes' summaries of key CML publications
This series of paper summaries builds on Professor Tim Hughes’ CML Publications of the Month news service. Produced every three months, it brings together expert-selected highlights from key CML papers, with particular attention to important articles that are not open access. By summarising these publications, the iCMLf helps make important new research more accessible and supports clinicians, researchers, and healthcare professionals to stay informed about pivotal studies and emerging trends in CML.
CML paper summary #7 - February 2026
How I evaluate and treat resistance and relapse in CML
Summary | Link to full paper Soverini S., Castagnetti F.; Blood 2026; 147(4):337-346
This comprehensive review provides a practical framework for evaluating and managing resistance and relapse in CML in the era of multiple tyrosine kinase inhibitors.
CML paper summary #6 - November 2025
How I manage chronic myeloid leukemia during pregnancy
Summary | Link to full paper Abruzzese E., Chelysheva E.; Blood 2026; 147 (4): 347–356
This comprehensive review provides practical, scenario-based guidance for managing CML during pregnancy.
CML paper summary #5 - August 2025
Favourable rates of cardiovascular events with stringent cardiovascular monitoring and a lowered dose of ponatinib as second-line treatment in chronic phase chronic myeloid leukemia patients failing or intolerant to first-line second-generation tyrosine kinase inhibitor treatment: Results of the prospective PONS Trial
Summary | Link to full paper Le Coutre P. et al. Acta Haematol 2025; https://doi.org/10.1159/000545826
This prospective phase 2 study evaluated ponatinib at a lowered starting dose (30 mg daily) as a second-line treatment in chronic phase chronic myeloid leukemia (CP-CML) patients who were resistant or intolerant to a first-line second-generation TKI.
CML paper summary #4 - April 2025
High-throughput drug screening identifies SMAC mimetics as enhancers of NK cell cytotoxicity in chronic myeloid leukemia
Summary | Link to full paper Nygrén P., et al., Blood 2025;145(15):1670–1686
This study explored how natural killer (NK) cells, a type of immune cell known for targeting cancer cells, could be more effective against chronic myeloid leukemia (CML) when supported by specific drugs.
CML paper summary #3 - January 2025
The e13a3 (b2a3) and e14a3 (b3a3) BCR::ABL1 isoforms are resistant to asciminib
Summary | Link to full paper Leske, I.B., Hantschel,O. Leukemia 38,2041-2045 (2024)
This study published investigates the potential resistance of specific BCR::ABL1 isoforms to asciminib, particularly focusing on the e13a3 (b2a3) and e14a3 (b3a3) isoforms.
CML paper summary #2 - October 2024
Point-of-care BCR::ABL1 transcript monitoring using capillary dried blood in CML patients
Summary | Link to full paper Sala-Torra, O., Beppu, L., Wu, Q. et al. Leukemia 38, 1822–1824 (2024)
This study explores a novel method for monitoring BCR::ABL1 transcripts in CML patients using a point-of-care dried capillary blood (DCB) collection system. The primary goal was to assess the correlation between BCR::ABL1 transcript levels in DCB and standard venous blood samples.
CML paper summary #1 - July 2024
Asciminib in newly diagnosed CML
Summary | Link to full paper Hochhaus A. et al., N Engl J Med 2024;391:885-898
The ASC4FIRST, phase 3 trial, investigates the efficacy and safety of asciminib compared to established tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs) in the first-line treatment of chronic-phase CML.