What is the primary first-line treatment for CML?

The primary first-line treatment for Chronic Myeloid Leukemia (CML) is indeed tyrosine kinase inhibitors such as imatinib. These medications specifically target the BCR-ABL fusion protein that is responsible for the uncontrolled proliferation of myeloid cells in CML. Imatinib, as well as other tyrosine kinase inhibitors, have revolutionized the treatment of this disease by significantly improving survival rates and quality of life for patients.

Imatinib works by inhibiting the activity of the tyrosine kinase associated with the BCR-ABL protein, effectively blocking the signaling pathways that lead to the development and progression of CML. As a result, it has become the cornerstone of therapy since its approval in the early 2000s, and is widely considered the standard of care for newly diagnosed patients with chronic phase CML.

Other treatment options like chemotherapy with cyclophosphamide or radiation therapy are not first-line treatments for CML; these modalities are more commonly utilized for other conditions or illness types. Bone marrow transplant, while it can be a curative treatment, is typically reserved for advanced stages of the disease or for patients who do not respond to tyrosine kinase inhibitors. Therefore, the selection of imatinib