Chronic myeloid leukemia sufferers in the Gulf are set to benefit from new inroads made in global research and treatment of one of leukemia’s most common forms.

Chronic myeloid leukemia (CML) is a slow growing cancer in which the bone marrow - the soft, spongy tissue in the centre of bones - makes too many white blood cells.

The Chronic Myeloid Leukemia (CML) Gulf Expert Group will meet on January 30 in Kuwait to discuss the latest advances in the treatment of patients with CML.  The medical forum, to include 14 of the Gulf’s top hematologists, is the fourth in a series of bi-annual conferences on the disease, said an official spokesman.

Regional physicians who treat Chronic Myeloid Leukemia will receive the latest CML updates and share their patient treatment experiences.  Keynote speaker MD, Department of Clinical and Biological Sciences at the University of Turin, Italy, Giuseppe Saglio will discuss major CML developments and breakthroughs that will be made available to the leukemia research community in the Middle East.

 “Worldwide, leukemia researchers and clinicians strive to get the latest treatment data available since time is of the essence in treating CML as early as possible,” said Dr Saglio.

Chronic myeloid leukemia makes up about 15 per cent of all cases of leukemia among adults.  People of any age can develop CML, but it is most common in adults 50 years of age and older.  No standard screening process exists for detecting early stage leukemia. Doctors often find chronic leukemia during routine blood tests.

“For example, we’ll review data like a recently-reported study of  patients with newly diagnosed chronic phase CML, as well as discussing the latest in the field of CML management,” added Dr Saglio. – TradeArabia News Service