Tyrosine kinase inhibitor therapy has dramatically changed the outcome of chronic myeloid leukemia (CML) patients. However, the treatment is not considered to be curative and may present deleterious side effects, such that additional therapy options are warranted. Here, we discuss the beneficial immunomodulatory effects of interferon α (IFNα) therapy and the immunological changes related to optimal treatment responses.
Keywords: NK-cells; T-cells; chronic myeloid leukemia; curative treatment; immunomodulation; immunosurveillance; interferon-alpha.