Background:

The aim of this study was to assess retrospectively treatment and outcome of CML-patients in community based oncology practices in Germany and whether European LeukemiaNET (ELN) recommendations were followed.

Method:

All Ph+, BCR-ABL1+ CML-patients who were treated between 11/2001 and 12/2015 in nine oncology group practices were analyzed retrospectively.

Results:

Two hundred sixty patients with a median age of 60 (18–90) were analyzed. 254 (98%) were in chronic phase, 5 (2%) in accelerated and 1 (0.4%) in blast crisis. 248 patients (95%) received some form of TKI-therapy. 1st line TKI was imatinib in 197 patients (79%), 51 (21%) received a second generation TKI. 75% of TKI-therapies were monitored by PCR. Overall survival after 10 years according to Charlson comorbidity index (CCI) was: CCI 2: 100%; CCI 3–4: 83%; CCI 5–6: 52%; CCI ≥7: 39%. More patients died from comorbidities (8%) than from CML (5%).

Whether patients died was strongly correlated to CCI at diagnosis:

CCI 2: 3% of patients died, CCI 3–4: 16% of patients died, CCI 5–6: 38% of patients died, CCI ≥ 7: 42% of patients died.

Conclusion:

CML-patients treated in oncology group practices receive standard of care as recommended by ELN. Overall survival in routine care is comparable to international studies. Molecular monitoring should be improved (AU)