Low-dose dasatinib: when less can be more

Abstract

In The Lancet Haematology, Kazunori Murai and colleagues1 report the results of their study investigating a strategy of starting with a low dose of dasatinib in patients with chronic myeloid leukaemia, who are older than 70 years. These results are of interest, since a reasonable percentage of patients taking dasatinib at standard doses might develop important side-effects, especially older patients, who might metabolise the drug more slowly. Also, there has not been a clearly defined dose at which all patients should be treated.