Spontaneous Remission in a Patient with Chronic Myeloid Leukemia: A Case Report

Abstract

Chronic myeloid leukemia (CML) is a myeloproliferative neoplasm in which granulocytic cells are the main proliferative component. At diagnosis, more than 90% of CML cases have the characteristic Philadelphia chromosome, containing the BCR::ABL1 fusion gene. The natural history of untreated CML is an initial indolent chronic phase which will be followed by an accelerated phase, blast phase, or both. Tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs) have dramatically altered the natural history of CML. TKI discontinuation with the goal of treatment-free remission is currently part of current management recommendations. However, spontaneous remission without receiving any treatment is extraordinarily rare in CML patients. Herein, we report a 56-year-old male who presented with leukocytosis and was diagnosed as a case of CML in the chronic phase; however, treatment with TKIs was not initiated due to spontaneous hematological as well as molecular remission.

Keywords

• chronic myeloid leukemia
• spontaneous remission
• philadelphia chromosome
• tyrosine kinase inhibitors