Dose optimization strategy of the tyrosine kinase inhibitors imatinib, dasatinib, and nilotinib for chronic myeloid leukemia: From clinical trials to real-life settings

With the advent of tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs), the treatment prospects of chronic myeloid leukemia (CML) have changed markedly. This innovation can lengthen the long-term survival of patients suffering from CML. However, long-term exposure to TKIs is accompanied by various adverse events (AEs). The latter affect the quality of life and compliance of patients with CML, and may lead to serious disease progression (and even death). Recently, increasing numbers of patients with CML have begun to pursue a dose optimization strategy. Dose optimization may be considered at all stages of the entire treatment, which includes dose reduction and discontinuation of TKIs therapy. In general, reduction of the TKI dose is considered to be an important measure to reduce AEs and improve quality of life on the premise of maintaining molecular responses. Furthermore, discontinuation of TKIs therapy has been demonstrated to be feasible and safe for about half of patients with a stable optimal response and a longer duration of TKI treatment. This review focuses mainly on the latest research of dose optimization of imatinib, dasatinib, and nilotinib in CML clinical trials and real-life settings. We consider dose reduction in newly diagnosed patients, or in optimal response, or for improving AEs, either as a prelude to treatment-free remission (TFR) or as maintenance therapy in those patients unable to discontinue TKIs therapy. In addition, we also focus on discontinuation of TKIs therapy and second attempts to achieve TFR.