Dr. Cortes on Tyrosine Kinase Inhibitors in CML

Jorge E. Cortes, MD, director of the Georgia Cancer Center at Augusta University, shares his experience with tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs) as treatment of patients with chronic myeloid leukemia.

We need to use TKIs properly, Cortes emphasizes. He does not stay away from any of the TKIs when they are appropriate treatment for his patients. However, it is important to closely monitor patients on TKIs.

Patients should be monitored closely and not just for polymerase chain reaction, which have been emphasized a lot in the past. Cortes says physicians should monitor everything that is a part of the patient’s clinical context. If patients are managed properly, physicians can decrease the risks and make the best possible outcomes for patients.