The Hong Kong CML Registry

Chronic myeloid leukaemia (CML) is a malignant disorder of the haematopoietic system. It is characterized by the chromosomal translocation between chromosomes 9 and 22, resulting in the formation of the Philadelphia chromosome which contains the BCRABL1 fusion gene. The projected prevalence of CML is rising steadily, due to the significantly improved survival of CML patients and that the incidence rate increases with age. The efficacious yet costly tyrosine kinase inhibitors pose a significant financial burden to both patients and the health care system, while they carry their own side effects and long-term risks. This study aims to set up a local disease registry of CML to improve the knowledge concerning this disease, including epidemiology,characteristics and treatment outcome of CML in Hong Kong,as well as long-term safety and toxicities of therapeutic agents.