How it is administered

Dasatinib is administered orally as a tablet. It should be swallowed whole and not crushed, cut, or chewed. The medication can be taken with or without food, either in the morning or evening. Dosage varies depending on the condition being treated and patient age/weight:

• For adults with chronic phase chronic myeloid leukemia (CML): 100 mg once daily.
• For adults with accelerated phase CML, myeloid or lymphoid blast phase CML, or Philadelphia chromosome-positive acute lymphoblastic leukemia (Ph+ ALL): 140 mg once daily.
• For pediatric patients (1 year and older) with CML or Ph+ ALL: the dose is based on body weight (see table below).

How it works

Dasatinib is a type of medicine called a kinase inhibitor. It works by blocking specific proteins (kinases) that are involved in the growth and survival of cancer cells, especially those with a genetic change called the Philadelphia chromosome (Ph+). This chromosome produces an abnormal protein called BCR-ABL, which causes white blood cells to grow uncontrollably in certain blood cancers like chronic myeloid leukemia (CML) and acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL).

Dasatinib binds to and inhibits the activity of BCR-ABL and other related kinases. By blocking these signals, dasatinib helps stop the growth and division of cancer cells, leading to their death. It can also overcome resistance to other similar drugs (like imatinib) in some patients, making it effective for those whose disease has stopped responding to previous treatments. This targeted approach helps control the disease and can lead to remission in many patients.

Who Should take it

Dasatinib is prescribed for adults and children (1 year and older) with certain types of blood cancers:

• Adults with newly diagnosed Philadelphia chromosome-positive (Ph+) chronic myeloid leukemia (CML) in chronic phase.
• Adults with chronic, accelerated, or blast phase Ph+ CML who have not responded to or cannot tolerate previous therapy (including imatinib).
• Adults with Ph+ acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) who have not responded to or cannot tolerate previous therapy.
• Pediatric patients (1 year and older) with Ph+ CML in chronic phase.
• Pediatric patients (1 year and older) with newly diagnosed Ph+ ALL, in combination with chemotherapy.

Your doctor will determine if dasatinib is right for you based on your diagnosis, previous treatments, and overall health.

Who should not take it

There are no absolute contraindications listed for dasatinib, but certain patients should use caution or avoid it:

• Women who are pregnant or may become pregnant should not take dasatinib, as it can cause harm to the unborn baby (including birth defects and fetal death).
• Women who are breastfeeding should not use dasatinib and should avoid breastfeeding for at least 2 weeks after the last dose.
• Patients with severe allergic reactions to dasatinib or any of its ingredients should not take it.
• Caution is needed in patients with severe liver impairment, heart problems (such as long QT syndrome), or those taking certain other medications that interact with dasatinib.

Always inform your doctor about your full medical history and all medications you are taking before starting dasatinib.

Commonly used with

For pediatric patients with newly diagnosed Ph+ ALL, dasatinib is used in combination with chemotherapy. In adults, it is often used as a single agent but may be combined with other supportive treatments as needed (such as medications to manage side effects or prevent infections).

Dasatinib should not be taken with certain medications that strongly affect liver enzymes (CYP3A4 inhibitors or inducers), or with drugs that reduce stomach acid (like proton pump inhibitors or H2 blockers), as these can affect how dasatinib works.

Commonly tested with

Dasatinib has been tested in combination with multi-agent chemotherapy regimens for pediatric Ph+ ALL. It has also been compared to other tyrosine kinase inhibitors (like imatinib) in clinical trials for CML and ALL.

In clinical studies, dasatinib is often used alongside supportive care medications to manage side effects, and regular blood tests are performed to monitor its effects and safety.