Dr. Patterson Discusses Concerns With TKIs in Children With CML

Briana Patterson, MD, assistant professor, Division of Endocrinology, Aflac Cancer Center, Department of Pediatrics, Emory University School of Medicine, discusses concerns regarding the use of tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs) in the treatment of children with chronic myeloid leukemia (CML).

Children are very different from the typical patient with CML, who is often an older adult or elderly. Since pediatric patients are still growing, there is concern for the endocrine effects that a TKI can have. Patterson says that decreased linear growth can occur, meaning that children with CML will end up being shorter than their peers. Importantly, thyroid function can be affected, as well as glucose metabolism.

Patterson says that there is little known on the impact of TKIs on reproductive health, as most of the literature on long-term use of TKIs has been in geriatric patients, where it is not an issue. The future reproductive potential of a child with cancer should be a concern for the physician and caregiver, Patterson emphasizes.