On Location ASH Annual Meeting
Treating Chronic Myeloid Leukemia for
the First Time in Cambodia
Given the mortality and morbidity from
infectious diseases and perinatal compli-
cations in Cambodia, few resources are
expended on pediatric cancer programs.
Prom Vireak, MD, from Angkor Hospital
for Children (AHC) in Siem Reap, Cam-
bodia, and colleagues reported the first
case of chronic myeloid leukemia (CML)
treated at their center – an achievement
made possible through several interna-
tional collaborations, the researchers
noted.
The first-of-its-kind oncology program
was established in 2013 with support from
the American Society of Hematology and
Health Volunteers Overseas (ASH-HVO)
program.
The patient, a 12-year-old girl, pre-
sented at the AHC’s pediatric oncology
program with headache, bone pain, and
abdominal pain for one month. Periph-
eral blood and bone marrow samples
were collected, then sent for diagnos-
tic testing at U.S. sites. Results from
this analysis confirmed a diagnosis of
chronic-phase CML.
Imatinib – a tyrosine kinase inhibi-
tor (TKI) – is not available at AHC, so
the patient was treated at a hospital in
Phnom Penh. After three months of
treatment, her disease saw substantial
clinical improvement, with mean-
ingful reductions in spleen volume,
Dr. Vireak and colleagues reported.
“Through the global collaborative
efforts led by AHC and ASH-HVO,
CML is the first type of leukemia to
be treated at AHC, and this has helped
improve oncology care for children
in Cambodia,” they wrote. “AHC now
provides care and close monitoring to
four patients with CML.”