5 Recommendations for further research
5.1 It is strongly advised that a national registry should be set up to provide valuable information on the long-term effectiveness of imatinib treatment. It is also strongly recommended that data collection from original registration studies should be continued in order to:
-
investigate the comparative long-term efficacy of imatinib in terms of QoL and survival, for all phases of CML
-
investigate the adverse effects and the potential for the development of treatment resistance of long-term imatinib use.
5.2 Further good-quality studies are also needed to investigate:
-
the efficacy of imatinib in combination with other treatment options
-
the clinical and cost effectiveness of dose escalation (within licensed indications)
-
the need for, and duration of, long-term imatinib therapy in those who respond to initial treatment
-
the definition of inadequate response to imatinib treatment.