Dasatinib is a small-molecule inhibitor of the tyrosine kinases SRC and ABL that has been approved for the treatment of chronic myeloid leukemia (CML) and Philadelphia chromosome-positive acute lymphoblastic leukemia.
However, imatinib has few inhibitory effects on SRC tyrosine kinase with response rate of Ph+ ALL lower and relapse more frequent and quicker compared with CML.
Dasatinib, with increased binding potency (325-fold greater potency than imatinib for wild-type BCR-ABL), inhibition of both the active and inactive formation of BCR-ABL, and targeting of SRC family kinases, is the only agent approved for the treatment of patients with imatinib-resistant or -intolerant CML and Ph+ ALL.
The 5 phases of START (SRC/ABL Tyrosine kinase inhibition Activity Research Trials of dasatinib) represent the largest and most comprehensive evaluation of dasatinib in the treatment of patients in all stages of CML or Philadelphia chromosome-positive ALL who had undergone previous treatment for leukemia.
Dasatinib, a novel, oral, multitargeted kinase inhibitor of BCR-ABL and SRC family kinases, has previously induced responses in patients with imatinib-resistant or -intolerant Ph-positive ALL.