Improved knowledge of the biology underlying CML has revolutionized the clinical management of the disease and introduced new therapeutic perspectives. Imatinib a direct Bcr-Abl kinase inhibitor leads to durable cytogenetic remissions and improved survival. However, many patients with CML are slow responders or develop resistance. Although monitoring is recognized as necessary, when and how to do it and the proper interpretation of the results remain in many ways controversial, and adherence to guidelines deficient. Treatment goals and the significance of deeper molecular response are still being debated. Second-generation TKIs including 2 FDA approved agents are available to overcome Bcr-Abl1 kinase domain mutations. Even so many patients fail subsequent treatment with these agents, as they can develop highly resistant mutations such as T315I. Newer data on the upfront use of second generation TKIs is changing the paradigm of CML therapy further and creating the need for new modalities that can address resistance to these agents. The TKI revolution has introduced new questions that are now being addressed in clinical trials. This information is important to shed light on optimal monitoring and treatment modalities in the setting of the pregnant CML patient. In view of long-term adverse events of TKIs that are now arising, there is also growing interest in the feasibility of treatment discontinuation and eventual restart, and in the monitoring procedures that can provide essential information for clinical decision-making in this context.

Speakers at this meeting will present the newest and often unpublished data that relate to the (1) Biology of CML including the origin of BCR-ABL1, signal transduction, basis of disease progression, action of tyrosine kinase inhibitors and mechanisms underlying resistance to TKI, and (2) Aspects of treatment including prediction and definition of responses, drugs used in combination, targeting residual stem cells, modern diagnostics and molecular monitoring treatment-free remission and approaches to cure.