Chronic myeloid leukemia and second-generation tyrosine kinase inhibitors: when, how, and which one?
Chronic myeloid leukemia (CML) is a progressive and often fatal myeloproliferative disorder. The introduction of imatinib, a tyrosine kinase inhibitor (TKI) specific for BCR-ABL, was a major breakthrough in CML therapy. Although most patients respond to first-line imatinib therapy, some experience a loss of response (resistance) or require treatment discontinuation due to toxicity (intolerance). For patients who fail with standard-dose imatinib therapy, imatinib dose escalation is a second-line option. However, high-dose imatinib is not an appropriate approach for patients experiencing drug toxicity, and there remain questions over the durability of responses achieved with this strategy. Alternative second-line options include the newer TKIs dasatinib and nilotinib. A substantial amount of long-term data for these agents is available. Although both are potent and specific BCR-ABL TKIs, dasatinib and nilotinib exhibit unique pharmacological profiles and response patterns relative to different patient characteristics, such as disease stage and BCR-ABL mutational status. To optimize therapeutic benefit, clinicians should select treatment based on each patient's historical response, adverse-event tolerance level, and risk factors.
Jabbour
Elias
E
Department of Leukemia, The University of Texas M.D. Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX 77030, USA. ejabbour@mdanderson.org
Kantarjian
Hagop
H
Cortes
Jorge
J
D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001549:Benzamides; D000069439:Dasatinib; D019008:Drug Resistance, Neoplasm; D016044:Fusion Proteins, bcr-abl / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors / Q000235:genetics*; D006801:Humans; D000068877:Imatinib Mesylate; D015464:Leukemia, Myelogenous, Chronic, BCR-ABL Positive / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000201:enzymology; D010879:Piperazines / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use; D047428:Protein Kinase Inhibitors / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D011505:Protein-Tyrosine Kinases / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors*; D011743:Pyrimidines / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D013844:Thiazoles / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*
D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; D001549:Benzamides; D010879:Piperazines; D047428:Protein Kinase Inhibitors; D011743:Pyrimidines; D013844:Thiazoles; D000068877:Imatinib Mesylate; D011505:Protein-Tyrosine Kinases; D016044:Fusion Proteins, bcr-abl; C498826:nilotinib; D000069439:Dasatinib