Effective Treatment for chronic myelogenous leukemia

Dr. Shinya Kimura and his colleagues at the Department of Hematology, Respiratory Organs and Oncology, Saga University School of Medicine, have demonstrated in a multicenter clinical trial that dasatinib (brand name SPRYCEL) can be used more effectively and safely in elderly patients with chronic myelogenous leukemia (CML) over the age of 70 by starting the drug at 20 mg/day, one-fifth of the standard dose, instead of 100 mg/day. The multi-center clinical trial proved that the drug can be used more effectively and safely by starting at 20mg/day, one-fifth of the standard treatment dose of 100mg/day, and increasing/decreasing the dose based on efficacy and side effects. This was published online in The Lancet Hematology on November 23.