Long term outcomes of dasatinib as a second line treatment in patients with chronic myeloid leukemia

This study aimed to investigate the long-term outcomes of dasatinib treatment for patients with chronic myeloid leukemia who were resistant or intolerant to imatinib in daily clinical practice.  

This study concluded that dasatinib is safe and effective in these patients. 

Imatinib (Gleevec) is commonly the first line targeted treatment for chronic myeloid leukaemia (CML). Dasatinib (Sprycel) is also a targeted therapy that can be used for CML treatment. It has shown good response on the short-term. However, the long-term safety and effectiveness of dasatinib in the real world setting for patients with chronic phase CML (CP-CML) who were seistant or did not tolerate imatinib are still unknown.  

This study involved 118 patients with CP-CML who were resistant or intolerant to imatinib treatment. Patients received dasatinib as a second line treatment. The average follow-up period was 37 months. 

78% of patients achieved a complete cytogenetic response (CCyR) at 5 years. CCyr is when there is no Philadelphia chromosomes (genetic abnormality found in CML cells) present in the bone marrow. 68% of patients achieved a major molecular response (MMR) at 5 years. MMR is when there is a low level of BCR-ABL cancer gene present in the blood. 

The estimated 5-year probability of overall survival (OS) was 86%. The estimated 5-year probability of event-free survival (EFS; survival without complication from CML) was 83%. 

Dasatinib was mostly well tollerated. However, side effects persisted in almost half of patients, even after years of therapy. Buildup of liquid in lungs occurred in 29% of patients and was the most common cause of patients stopping dasatinib treatment. 

This study concluded that dasatinib was safe and effective as a second line treatment for patients with CP-CML who were resistant or intolerant to imatinib.  

This study was based on medical records. Information might have been missing.