Whether Ponatinib needs to be taken for a long time depends on the type of disease, treatment response, and individual tolerance. It is usually necessary to continue taking Ponatinib until disease progression or intolerable toxicity occurs, and some patients may require long-term maintenance treatment.

The necessity of long-term medication

(1) Chronic myeloid leukemia: Most patients require continuous medication to maintain molecular response, and discontinuation of medication may lead to disease recurrence.

(2) Accelerated/rapid change period: Long term treatment is required to control the progression of the disease, with a median treatment time of up to 28 months.

Principles for adjusting long-term medication use

(1) After obtaining sustained molecular response, it may be considered to reduce the dosage to 15mg/day for maintenance treatment.

(2) When serious adverse reactions occur, dosage adjustment or discontinuation of medication is necessary, such as arterial occlusion, severe liver injury, etc.

3 Indications for discontinuation of medication

(1) Disease progression: If hematological or genetic recurrence occurs, medication should be discontinued or the treatment plan changed.

(2) Intolerable toxicity: permanent discontinuation of medication is required for life-threatening adverse reactions.

(3) Continuous complete molecular response: A few patients may attempt to discontinue medication for observation.