Related pages Drug Information Summaries 1 Approval Process for New Cancer Treatments 2 Access to Investigational Drugs: Q & A 3

This page contains brief information about dasatinib and a collection of links to more information from the National Cancer Institute (NCI), the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), and the National Library of Medicine (NLM).

US Brand Name(s):		Sprycel
FDA Approved:		Yes

Dasatinib is approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to treat chronic myeloid leukemia (CML) and Philadelphia chromosome positive acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) in adults who were not able to use other drugs.

Dasatinib is also being studied in the treatment of other types of cancer.

Patient Information Sheet on Dasatinib ⁴ - A lay language summary of important information about this drug that may include the following:

• FDA warnings or alerts about this drug,
• what this drug is used for and how it is used,
• what you should tell your doctor before using this drug,
• what you should know about this drug before using it,
• other drugs that may interact with this drug, and
• possible side effects.

Drugs are often studied to find out if they can help treat or prevent conditions other than the ones they are approved for. This FDA patient information sheet applies only to approved uses of the medicine. However, much of the information may also apply to unapproved uses that are being studied.

FDA Approval for Dasatinib ⁵ - Information from the FDA about the approval of this drug and the clinical trials that led to the approval.

Definition from the NCI Drug Dictionary ⁶ - Detailed scientific definition and other names for this drug.

Clinical Trial Results: Dasatinib and Nilotinib Both Effective for Chronic Myelogenous Leukemia When Imatinib Won't Work (10/31/2007) ⁷ - Important clinical trial results for this drug, background information, and how the trial was done.

Clinical Trial Results: Dasatinib Effective Against Difficult-to-Treat Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia (06/01/2007) ⁸ - Important clinical trial results for this drug, background information, and how the trial was done.

Clinical Trial Results: Dasatinib Effective in Blast-Crisis Chronic Myeloid Leukemia (05/08/2007) ⁹ - Important clinical trial results for this drug, background information, and how the trial was done.

MedlinePlus Information on Dasatinib ¹⁰ - A lay language summary of important information about this drug that may include the following:

• warnings about this drug,
• what this drug is used for and how it is used,
• what you should tell your doctor before using this drug,
• what you should know about this drug before using it,
• other drugs that may interact with this drug, and
• possible side effects.

Drugs are often studied to find out if they can help treat or prevent conditions other than the ones they are approved for. This NLM patient information sheet applies only to approved uses of the drug. However, much of the information may also apply to unapproved uses that are being studied.

Clinical Trials for Dasatinib ¹¹ - Check for trials from NCI's PDQ Cancer Clinical Trials Registry now accepting patients.

Glossary Terms

An aggressive (fast-growing) type of leukemia (blood cancer) in which too many lymphoblasts (immature white blood cells) are found in the blood and bone marrow. Also called acute lymphocytic leukemia and ALL.

A term for diseases in which abnormal cells divide without control. Cancer cells can invade nearby tissues and can spread to other parts of the body through the blood and lymph systems. There are several main types of cancer. Carcinoma is cancer that begins in the skin or in tissues that line or cover internal organs. Sarcoma is cancer that begins in bone, cartilage, fat, muscle, blood vessels, or other connective or supportive tissue. Leukemia is cancer that starts in blood-forming tissue such as the bone marrow, and causes large numbers of abnormal blood cells to be produced and enter the blood. Lymphoma and multiple myeloma are cancers that begin in the cells of the immune system. Central nervous system cancers are cancers that begin in the tissues of the brain and spinal cord.

A slowly progressing disease in which too many white blood cells (not lymphocytes) are made in the bone marrow. Also called chronic granulocytic leukemia, chronic myelogenous leukemia, and CML.

An agency in the U.S. federal government whose mission is to protect public health by making sure that food, cosmetics, and nutritional supplements are safe to use and truthfully labeled. The Food and Drug Administration also makes sure that drugs, medical devices, and equipment are safe and effective, and that blood for transfusions and transplant tissue are safe. Also called FDA.

An abnormality of chromosome 22 in which part of chromosome 9 is transferred to it. Bone marrow cells that contain the Philadelphia chromosome are often found in chronic myelogenous leukemia.

A test result that reveals the presence of a specific disease or condition for which the test is being done.