Target Therapies for CML

What is Targeted Therapy?

Targeted therapy is the standard treatment for CML when the leukemia cells have the Philadelphia chromosome (called Ph-positive, or Ph+, CML). This is usually determined by a bone marrow biopsy (BMB).

Targeted therapy is a type of treatment that uses drugs to target specific molecules (usually proteins) on the surface of cancer cells. These molecules help send signals that tell cells to grow or divide. By targeting these molecules, the drugs stop the growth and spread of the cancer cells while limiting harm to normal cells. Targeted therapy may also be called molecular targeted therapy.

Thanks to medical research there are now 6 different types of targeted therapy drugs available to help in the fight against CML. Therapies used with CML are referred to as Tyrosine Kinase Inhibitors.

When I was first diagnosed we discussed the three main drugs which are Imatinib, Dasatinib, and Nilotinib. We went over some of the "reported" side effects, any issues my Hematologist had seen in other patients, etc. She gave me the option as to which one I wanted to start with. I chose Dasatinib. I have been on it from day one but have had some side effects that I deal with. More on side effects later.

In another post I will list the available drugs for treating CML.

*Photo is copyrighted. Taken and supplied by Amber Noden