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Is dasatinib chemotherapy or TKI therapy?

Dasatinib (Sprycel) is a tyrosine kinase inhibitor (TKI), not chemotherapy. It's a second-generation TKI that was approved in 2006 for treating Philadelphia chromosome-positive chronic myeloid leukemia (CML).

TKIs work differently than chemotherapy. They specifically target the Show Full Answer

Is dasatinib chemotherapy or TKI therapy?

Dasatinib (Sprycel) is a tyrosine kinase inhibitor (TKI), not chemotherapy. It's a second-generation TKI that was approved in 2006 for treating Philadelphia chromosome-positive chronic myeloid leukemia (CML).

TKIs work differently than chemotherapy. They specifically target the abnormal BCR-ABL1 protein found in CML cells, blocking the signals that tell these cells to grow and divide uncontrollably. This targeted approach generally causes fewer serious side effects compared to chemotherapy because it focuses on cancer cells while typically sparing healthy cells.

Dasatinib can be used as a first-line treatment for newly diagnosed CML, or for people who can't take imatinib (Gleevec) due to side effects or if imatinib isn't working effectively. It's usually taken once daily and can be taken with or without food.

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