Treatment of children with chronic myelogenous leukemia

Chronic myelogenous leukemia (CML) is rare in children, but it does occur. Treatment in children is like treatment in adults.

Some targeted drugs attack cells with the Philadelphia chromosome, which is the gene abnormality in CML. These drugs usually work well at keeping CML under control, often for a long time and with less severe side effects than with chemo drugs. But these drugs do not seem to cure CML when used by themselves, and they must be taken every day. Doctors are now looking at whether adding these drugs to stem cell transplant plans can help increase cure rates.

To learn more about CML and its treatment, see our document, Leukemia--Chronic Myeloid Overview.