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Abstract
Treatment with imatinib has demonstrated high response rates and improved prognosis in chronic myelogenous leukemia. However, while the short-term response to imatinib is high, there are some concerns that the long-term response is substantially lower. Durable response with imatinib is difficult to achieve in patients with resistant disease. The use of higher doses has also been associated with increased toxicity and intolerance. Dasatinib is a new SRC–ABL-kinase inhibitor that has been developed for treating chronic myelogenous leukemia patients, across all phases of disease, who are resistant or intolerant to imatinib. This article details the existing evidence on the clinical efficacy, safety and value for money of dasatinib in the treatment of imatinib-resistant and -intolerant patients with chronic myelogenous leukemia. Dasatinib is associated with higher levels of response compared with high-dose imatinib. In addition, higher levels of response are associated with improved health outcomes in terms of both quality- and quantity-of-life years.
Financial & competing interests disclosure
Matthew Taylor’s employers previously received funding from Bristol Myers-Squibb Company for health economics consultancy services relating to dasatinib. The funding was not related to the development of this manuscript. The authors have no other relevant affiliations or financial involvement with any organization or entity with a financial interest in or financial conflict with the subject matter or materials discussed in the manuscript apart from those disclosed.
No writing assistance was utilized in the production of this manuscript.