Successful delivery using interferon α for molecular relapse of chronic myeloid leukemia after interruption of tyrosine kinase inhibitor

Abstract

A tyrosine kinase inhibitor (TKI) was used to treat the patient, a 35-year-old woman who was diagnosed with chronic myeloid leukemia at the age of 22 years. Since a four-year deep molecular response (DMR) was obtained, spontaneous pregnancy was planned under TKI withdrawal. Even though her disease had advanced to MR2.0 at the time of pregnancy confirmation, 2 months from TKI cessation, interferon α therapy was initiated in light of the patient’s history. Later, the patient reached MR3.0, gave birth to a healthy baby, and maintained MR3.0-4.0. TKI was resumed after about 6 months of breastfeeding. Treatment-free remission (TFR) is required for natural conception despite the teratogenicity and miscarriage risks associated with BCR::ABL1 TKIs. When planning a pregnancy, it is also necessary to take the patients’ backgrounds, disease states, and medical history into account.