In a nutshell
This study compared the outcomes after stem cell transplant (SCT) vs. dasatinib (Sprycel) combined with chemotherapy in the treatment of acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) with abnormal genes. The study found that dasatinib and chemotherapy may be more effective in these patients.
Some background
ALL with abnormal genes leads to poor outcomes. It is often treated with stem cell transplant (SCT) to replace abnormal cells with healthy cells. New drugs such as dasatinib block abnormal proteins on the cancer cells. This helps stop the spread of cancer cells. Chemotherapy kills cancer cells. It is not known if the combination of dasatinib and chemotherapy can have similar or better outcomes than SCT in patients with ALL.
Methods & findings
70 patients were included in this study. Group 1 had 30 patients (42.9%) and received chemotherapy and dasatinib followed by a SCT. Group 2 had 40 patients (57.1%) and received chemotherapy and dasatinib only. Patients were followed up for 15 months on average.
Group 1 had an overall survival (OS) of 93.3% after 1 year. This rate was 100% in group 2. After 2 years, OS was 89.8% in group 1 and 86.2% in group 2. After 3 years, OS was 76% in group 1 and 71.3% in group 2.
Survival without relapse after 3 years was 70.5% in group 1 and 80.1% in group 2.
The bottom line
The study concluded that dasatinib and chemotherapy only may be more effective than a stem cell transplant in the treatment of ALL.
The fine print
This study had a small sample size and short follow up period. Larger studies are needed to confirm results.
Published By :
Cancer Medicine
Date :
Apr 23, 2019
