Unique Gender-Related Characteristics and Differences of Chronic Myeloid Leukemia Patients in Azerbaijan: A Retrospective Cohort Study.

OBJECTIVE

The objective of this study is to evaluate gender-related demographic, clinical, and molecular differences, and imatinib response in patients with chronic myeloid leukemia (CML) in Azerbaijan.

SETTING

The study was carried out at National Hematology and Blood Transfusion Center, Baku, Azerbaijan.

PERIOD: This is a retrospective data analysis carried out from January 2008 to December 2023.

METHODS

A total of 763 patients with Ph+ CML were included. Case records were reviewed for demographic data, disease phase, risk group, clinical manifestation, molecular characteristics, and response to imatinib. Genetic mutations were analyzed in 163 patients.

RESULTS

A total of 763 CML patients were analyzed, with a female predominance (54%) observed, an atypical trend compared to global data. Female patients had significantly smaller spleen sizes, lower hemoglobin, and higher platelet counts than male patients. Imatinib response was better in female patients (55.2%) compared to male patients (44.8%) (p = 0.03). ABL kinase domain mutations were significantly more frequent in male patients (21.3%) than in female patients (six percent) (p = 0.004), with T315I mutation also higher in male patients (p = 0.036). Survival analysis showed significantly better overall survival in female patients (p = 0.038), although subgroup differences by risk category were not statistically significant.

CONCLUSION

This study highlights significant gender-related differences in CML patients in Azerbaijan, including a unique female predominance, better treatment response, and superior survival outcomes in women. These findings underscore the need to consider gender as a relevant factor in CML prognosis, treatment planning, and future research.