A newly developed prognostic scoring system significantly enhances survival prediction for patients with chronic myeloid leukemia (CML) in blast phase, a stage marked by poor outcomes.
Data from 275 patients across 13 countries, enrolled in the European LeukemiaNet Blast Phase Registry, informed the model. Median overall survival was 18.9 months, with a median follow-up of 45 months.
Researchers identified six key factors influencing prognosis: blast percentage, platelet count, age at onset, immunophenotype, extramedullary disease, and prior CML history. These formed the basis of a scoring system categorizing patients into low-, intermediate-, and high-risk groups.
Low-risk patients had a median survival of 97 months; intermediate-risk, 22 months; and high-risk, just 9 months.
The tool offers potential for improved risk stratification in clinical trials and treatment planning but requires external validation.