Advancing Pharmacist-Led Care in Chronic Myeloid Leukemia: Bridging Knowledge and Practice Gaps to Optimize Tyrosine Kinase Inhibitor Management and Patient Adherence

Program Description

Chronic myeloid leukemia (CML) is a myeloproliferative neoplasm characterized by the unregulated growth of myeloid cells. The introduction of tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs) has transformed CML into a manageable chronic condition with improved long-term outcomes. However, in real-world community oncology practice, challenges persist in optimizing therapy due to complex dosing considerations, access and affordability barriers, and the need for ongoing management of adverse effects. This session will equip oncology pharmacists with practical, evidence-based strategies to support patients receiving TKI therapy in the community setting. Faculty will emphasize the pharmacist’s role in patient education, setting expectations for long-term therapy, and proactively identifying and managing adverse effects to support adherence and persistence. Participants will gain insights into counseling patients at therapy initiation, monitoring for and mitigating toxicities, navigating access challenges, and collaborating with the care team to optimize outcomes. Furthermore, the session will highlight the oncology pharmacist’s pivotal role in leveraging electronic monitoring and medication management systems to track treatment persistence, mitigate adverse effects, and support the development of protocols to safely transition eligible patients toward treatment-free remission.

Target audience: Oncology pharmacists
Type of activity: Application
Release date: May 12, 2026
Expiration date: May 12, 2027
Learner level: Foundational, Intermediate
Time to complete activity: .75 hour
Fee: Free

Educational Objectives

At the completion of this activity, participants will be able to:

• Apply evolving clinical evidence and guideline updates to individualize frontline tyrosine kinase inhibitor (TKI) selection and sequencing in chronic myeloid leukemia (CML), incorporating patient comorbidities, BCR::ABL1 mutation status, tolerability, and cost considerations
• Investigate strategies to monitor and manage TKI-associated adverse effects and overcome adherence barriers, utilizing evidence-based dose adjustments, patient education, and supportive interventions
• Employ emerging technologies in clinical practice to enhance treatment adherence in patients with CML