Can the new slow-grained drug bosutinib/bosutinib cure the disease?

Bosutinib/Bosutinib, as a second-generation tyrosine kinase inhibitor (TKI), plays an important role in the treatment of chronic myelogenous leukemia (CML). Since the introduction of BCR::ABL1 tyrosine kinase-targeted therapy, Philadelphia chromosome (Ph)-positive CML has gradually become a chronic disease that can be effectively managed, and the patient's survival expectation is close to that of the normal population. This transformation is attributed to the continuous advancement of TKIs, and it is against this background that bosutinib emerged.

Bosutinib is approved for adult patients with Ph-positive CML in the chronic, accelerated and blast phasesEspecially for those patients who have developed resistance or intolerance to previous treatments. In addition, bosutinib is also suitable for patients with newly diagnosed Ph-positive chronic phase CML. In clinical trials, bosutinib has shown good efficacy, effectively reducing the tumor burden in patients and, in some cases, making patients disease-free.

Although the efficacy of bosutinib is encouraging, it needs to be emphasized that it does not cure CML at this stage.CML. Although the drug can significantly control disease progression and improve patients' quality of life, patients are still at risk of relapse due to the genetic heterogeneity of leukemia cells and the possible emergence of new drug-resistant mutations. Therefore, ongoing monitoring and individualized treatment options are crucial.

The side effects of long-term use of bosutinib are also an important factor to consider. Although bosutinib is relatively well tolerated, some common side effects include gastrointestinal reactions, liver function abnormalities, and hematological changes, which require close observation and management in clinical practice. When necessary, doctors can adjust the dosage according to the patient's specific conditions to minimize side effects and improve treatment effectiveness.

Reference materials:https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/38278737/