Resistance is the ability of cancer cells to survive even when exposed to a drug that would usually kill them or slow their growth. There are 2 kinds of resistance in Ph+ CML treatment:

• Primary resistance—Happens when a patient does not respond as expected from the start of treatment
• Secondary resistance—Happens when a patient responds to treatment initially but then loses that response over time

Causes of resistance
There are many theories about why resistance occurs. One is that resistance generally occurs because the Bcr-Abl protein has changed, or mutated.

Treatment options
Today, there are several treatment options available when resistance occurs. Talk with your doctor about what may be right for you.

Novartis is working hard to learn more about resistance and how to overcome it. Learn more about what Novartis Oncology is doing.

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