Dasatinib induces significant hematologic and cytogenetic responses in patients with imatinib-resistant or -intolerant chronic myeloid leukemia in accelerated phase.

Treatment options are limited for patients with imatinib-resistant or -intolerant accelerated phase chronic myeloid leukemia (CML-AP). Dasatinib is a novel, potent, oral, multitargeted kinase inhibitor of BCR-ABL and SRC-family kinases that showed marked efficacy in a phase 1 trial of patients with imatinib-resistant CML. Results are presented for 107 patients with CML-AP with imatinib-resistance or -intolerance from a phase 2, open-label study further evaluating dasatinib efficacy and safety. At 8 months' minimum follow-up, 81%, 64%, and 39% of patients achieved overall, major (MaHR), and complete hematologic responses, respectively, whereas 33% and 24% attained major and complete cytogenetic remission. Of 69 patients who achieved MaHR, 7 progressed. Seventy-six percent of patients are estimated to be alive and progression-free at 10 months. Response rates for the 60% of patients with baseline BCR-ABL mutations did not differ from the total population. Dasatinib was well tolerated: most nonhematologic adverse events (AEs) were mild to moderate; no imatinib-intolerant patients discontinued dasatinib because of AEs. Although common (76% of patients with severe neutropenia), cytopenias were manageable through dose modification. In summary, dasatinib induced significant hematologic and cytogenetic responses in patients with imatinib resistance or intolerance, was well tolerated, and may represent a potent new therapeutic option for CML-AP. Further follow-up is warranted. This trial was registered at www.clinicaltrials.gov as #CA180005.