"Chronic myeloid leukaemia is caused by a chromosomal abnormality in haematopoietic stem cells in which reciprocal translocation between chromosomes 9 and 22 creates the fusion gene BCR-ABL1. The shortened chromosome 22 containing the fusion gene is called the Philadelphia chromosome. The diagnosis is established by karyotype (to detect the Philadelphia chromosome), fluorescence in situ hybridisation (to detect the BCR-ABL1 fusion gene), or reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (to detect the BCR-ABL1 mRNA product)."
"Chronic myeloid leukaemia is caused by a chromosomal abnormality in haematopoietic stem cells in which reciprocal translocation between chromosomes 9 and 22 creates the fusion gene BCR-ABL1. The shortened chromosome 22 containing the fusion gene is called the Philadelphia chromosome. The diagnosis is established by karyotype (to detect the Philadelphia chromosome), fluorescence in situ hybridisation (to detect the BCR-ABL1 fusion gene), or reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (to detect the BCR-ABL1 mRNA product)."
"First-line medical therapy consists of tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKI), e.g. imatinib, dasatinib, or nilotinib 1,3. With tyrosine kinase inhibitor treatment, life expectancy approaches that of the general population."
"50% of patients are asymptomatic, with the diagnosis being first suspected based upon routine blood work finding leucocytosis with a predominance of the neutrophil lineage. Symptoms are typically related to anaemia, thrombocytopenia and splenomegaly - including fatigue, early satiety, and bleeding 2."