Drug safe but with limited efficacy; those with trisomy 8 chromosomal disorder may benefit
Researchers at Moffitt Cancer Center have completed a phase II clinical trial to determine the safety and efficacy of dasatinib for patients with higher-risk myelodysplastic syndromes (MDS), chronic myelomonocytic leukemia, or acute myeloid leukemia resulting from MDS and have failed treatment with azanucleosides. The therapy may not be effective for all patients, but those with trisomy 8 chromosomal disorder have higher rates of stable disease and respond better to treatment with dasatinib, the study shows.
Results of this study appear in the March issue of Leukemia Research.
Myelodysplastic syndromes are disorders of the stem cell in bone marrow. The marrow does not produce enough normal blood cells for the body. As the number of quality blood-forming cells declines, blood production is impaired.
According to the researchers, stem cell transplantation is the only potentially curative option for MDS but also has risks of morbidity and mortality. A class of medication called azanucleosides is the only approved medication for patients with an advanced stage of this disease. The outcome after failure of azanucleosides is poor. Therefore, new therapies for MDS are needed, said the study authors.