The biological basis for immunotherapy in patients with chronic myelogenous leukemia.

Background: Chronic myelogenous leukemia (CML) has long been recognized as an entity responsive to immunotherapeutic interventions. Despite the success of the tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs) in this disease, CML remains incurable. Only allogeneic bone marrow transplantation can provide long-term eradication of CML.

Methods: This review summarizes the recent advances in the field of immunology in CML, specifically in tumor antigen discovery, that have been incorporated into the design of new clinical trials.

Results: Multiple vaccine approaches are currently under clinical investigation. Recent laboratory and clinical data also point to a unique interaction of TKIs with the immune system.

Conclusions: A better understanding of these interactions combined with advances in the field of immunotherapy will likely lead to incorporation of TKIs in future therapeutic interventions to develop a cure for this disease.