I agree entirely with Dr Saglio and have little to add. I would simply mention that patients who achieve and maintain a complete molecular response do seem to have a survival comparable to that of normal people provided that they continue to take the TKI. Continued adherence is almost certainly very important in most cases, (though possibly not in all).

Furthermore the definition of cure is not straightforward. For example, are people who sustain an infection with herpes zoster (and retain the virus in their body, yet have a normal life span) ever truly cured?

According to the ILTE (Imatinib Long Term Evaluation) study, CML patients who under imatinib therapy have achieved complete cytogenetic remission and are still in CCyR after to years of therapy, have a life expectancy similar to the o control population without leukemia. If this patients were also able to achieve CMR and to remain in CMR for at least 2 years, they have also the possibility to try to discontinue the treatment with an expected rate of successful discontinuation of approximately 40%. Longer the period of TKI therapy and of assessed CMR, however, higher the probability of successful discontinuation. Several clinical trials are presently ongoing to establish the optimal conditions allowing treatment discontinuation and it is recommended to enter one of such protocols in the attempt to try to discontinue the therapy or at least to do it under strict control of the hematologist of reference.

After achieving cmr at 2yrs 3 mths what is the rate of overall
survival and is there a chance of cure?
dr sharma