Recent Advances in Chronic Myeloid Leukaemia (CML): Emerging Molecular and Immunotherapeutic Targets

Chronic myeloid leukaemia (CML), a distinct myeloproliferative neoplasm, results from the malignant reprogramming of haematopoietic stem cells (HSCs) into leukaemia stem cells (LSCs), primarily driven by breakpoint cluster region and Abelson (BCR-ABL1) fusion oncogene. Although the advent of tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs) has significantly transformed clinical management, leading to improved patient survival and quality of life, sustained treatment-free remission (TFR) remains achievable in only a minority of patients. This limitation is largely attributable to the persistence of LSCs and the development of resistance mechanisms. Emerging evidence indicates that LSCs evade TKI-induced apoptosis through aberrant expression of specific cell-surface markers, dysregulated intracellular signalling pathways, and extensive epigenetic alterations. This review examines recent advancements in CML therapy, with a focus on these novel therapeutic targets. It highlights the pivotal role of LSCs in disease progression and relapse, evaluates potential molecular and epigenetic regulators as new targets for intervention, and supports the development of combination treatment strategies to improve TFR rates and move towards curative outcomes.