COVID-19 PANDEMIC AND CHRONIC MYELOID LEUKEMIA: A REVIEW

Abstract

Background: Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) has emerged as a global pandemic as it has affected millions of individuals and caused hundreds of fatalities. This pandemic has posed serious challenges to health care professionals related to the treatment and management of cancer especially chronic myeloid leukemia patients. Objectives: This review has summarized some latest studies and case reports conducted to evaluate the prevalence and effects of COVID-19 infection in chronic myeloid leukemia patients and how anti-neoplastic drugs act as antiviral agents. Methodology: All the literature were searched by using different electronic databases. Results: The rate of COVID-19 infection in cancer patients is higher as compared to the normal population. The reason may be immunosuppression due to cancer progression or a therapeutic approach applied to control the progression of cancer. Studies have indicated a low risk of infection in chronic myeloid leukemia patients who received tyrosine kinase inhibitor therapy. Conclusion: It has been found that tyrosine kinase inhibitors may act as an antiviral agent. That gave the idea that anti-neoplastic agents could be repurposed as antiviral agents to fight the battle against the current pandemic. This will provide new insights into the management of COVID-19 infection in chronic myeloid leukemia patients.