Treatment of patients with primary myelofibrosis using dasatinib.

OBJECTIVE: Primary myelofibrosis (PMF) is a chronic clonal myeloproliferative neoplasm. It is associated with a poor prognosis, with a median survival time of approximately five years. Thus far, there are no specific targeted drugs for PMF. In this study, we evaluated the efficacy and safety of dasatinib, a second-generation tyrosine kinase inhibitor, in six PMF patients.

PATIENTS AND METHODS: From June 1, 2015 to February 29, 2016, six patients with PMF in our department were enrolled into this trial. The efficacy and safety of 100 mg/d (50 mg twice daily) dasatinib were investigated in these patients.

RESULTS: For patients who experienced adverse drug events, the dose was reduced to 70 or 50 mg/d, whereas for those who tolerated the drug well, the dosage was increased to 140 mg/d (70 mg twice a day). Of the six patients, two achieved bone marrow histologic remission, five showed symptomatic improvement, and one reached a stable condition. No severe hematological or non-hematological adverse events were observed thus far.

CONCLUSIONS: Dasatinib treatment may be beneficial to patients with PMF and resulted in significant improvements in splenomegaly, clinical symptoms, physical condition, and quality of life. Therefore, we regard it as an effective therapy for PMF.