Acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ACL) is a type of cancer of the blood and bone marrow affecting the white blood cells. Though the outcomes in patients with Philadelphia chromosome (Ph)–positive acute lymphoblastic leukemia have improved, the rate of mortality and morbidity remains to be high. This study aims to evaluate the effect of dasatinib–blinatumomab in the treatment of Ph-positive ALL.
This phase 2, single-group, first-line therapy trial included a total of 63 patients with newly diagnosed Ph-positive ALL. All the patients were assigned to receive dasatinib plus glucocorticoids, followed by 2 cycles of blinatumomab. The primary outcome of the study was a sustained molecular response rate in the bone marrow.
Of the 63 included patients, complete remission was reported in 98%. A total of 29% of patients had a molecular response at the ned of dasatinib induction therapy. This percentage was found to be increased to 60% after 2 cycles of blinatumomab. At a median follow-up of 18 months, disease-free survival was achieved in 88% of the patients and overall survival in 95% of the patients.
The research concluded that a consolidation first-line therapy with dasatinib and blinatumomab was associated with a higher molecular response rate, disease-free survival, and overall survival in patients with Ph-positive ALL.
Ref: https://www.nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/NEJMoa2016272
