Efficacy and side effects of dasatinib/staxacil

Dasatinib (Dasatinib) is a targeted therapy drug mainly used to treat chronic myelogenous leukemia (CML) and acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL). As a type of tyrosine kinase inhibitor (TKI), dasatinib controls the proliferation of cancer cells by inhibiting the growth signaling pathways of leukemia cells, thereby helping to improve patients' disease prognosis. Its clinical application has achieved remarkable results in improving the treatment effect of leukemia.

For patients with chronic myelogenous leukemia (CML), dasatinib’s mechanism of action is mainly by targeting and inhibiting the BCR-ABL1 fusion protein. BCR-ABL1 is a key driver of leukemia cells in CML patients. By inhibiting this tyrosine kinase, dasatinib can effectively control the proliferation of leukemia cells, promote cell apoptosis, reduce the number of tumor cells, and thus improve the survival of patients. The treatment of dasatinib can not only be used for chronic phase CML, but also for patients with accelerated phase and blast crisis CML, especially when other treatments are ineffective, it can provide a better therapeutic response.

In addition, dasatinib has also shown good efficacy in acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL). For patients with B-cell ALL and T-cell ALL, dasatinib helps control the proliferation of leukemia cells by inhibiting related kinase signaling pathways and produces complete remission in some patients. Its use is often combined with chemotherapy to help improve the overall effect of treatment, especially in patients with ALL who are resistant to traditional treatments.

The use of dasatinib provides an important treatment option for CML and ALL patients. Especially before the emergence of TKI drugs, the treatment effect of CML and ALL was not ideal, and the prognosis of patients was poor. With the application of dasatinib, the survival period of leukemia has been greatly extended, and the effectiveness of treatment has also been significantly improved.

Although dasatinib has shown significant efficacy in the treatment of leukemia, its side effects are also an important issue that patients need to pay attention to during treatment. Common side effects include:

1. Hematological adverse reactions: Dasatinib may cause hematological adverse reactions such as decreased white blood cell count (granulocytopenia), thrombocytopenia and anemia. These hematological adverse reactions may cause patients to have reduced immune function, be susceptible to infection, or have aggravated bleeding tendency. Regular monitoring of blood counts is an essential part of the treatment process.

2.Cardiovascular system adverse reactions: Some patients may develop cardiovascular-related problems while taking dasatinib, such as heart failure, arrhythmia (especially QT interval prolongation) and hypertension. Prolongation of the QT interval may increase the risk of fatal arrhythmias in patients, so patients taking dasatinib usually require electrocardiographic monitoring.

3. Abnormal liver function: Dasatinib sometimes causes an increase in liver enzymes, which is manifested as an increase inALT and AST levels. Liver impairment is usually mild to moderate, but in some cases, a patient's liver function problems may require dose adjustment or treatment suspension. Regular monitoring of liver function is important to avoid serious liver damage

4. Gastrointestinal adverse reactions: When patients use dasatinib, common gastrointestinal side effects include nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, etc. Although these adverse reactions are usually mild and can be relieved with symptomatic treatment, some patients may experience more severe gastrointestinal reactions that affect the continuation of treatment.

5. Skin reactions: Dasatinib may cause rash, itching and other adverse skin reactions, and individual patients may also experience severe skin allergic reactions, such as Stevens-Johnson syndrome (SJS) and toxic epidermal necrolysis (TEN). If these serious skin reactions occur, patients should stop taking the medication immediately and seek emergency medical help.

6. Pulmonary adverse reactions: A small number of patients may experience pulmonary reactions, such as pulmonary edema and dyspnea, while using dasatinib. Although these side effects are rare, patients who develop symptoms such as difficulty breathing should undergo lung examination and imaging evaluation as soon as possible.

Although dasatinib may cause these side effects, most are manageable. During treatment, patients should undergo regular hematology tests, liver function monitoring and electrocardiogram examinations in order to detect problems as early as possible and adjust the treatment plan in a timely manner. In addition, patients should maintain good health habits while taking medication, pay attention to a balanced diet, and avoid overwork and mental stress.

Overall, dasatinib, as a targeted therapy, has shown significant efficacy in the treatment of chronic myelogenous leukemia and acute lymphoblastic leukemia, especially when traditional treatments are ineffective, providing a new treatment option. However, despite its obvious curative effect, the side effects cannot be ignored. Patients need to pay close attention to their own body reactions during the treatment process and receive relevant examinations regularly to ensure the safety and efficacy of the treatment.

Reference materials:https://go.drugbank.com/drugs/DB01254