dasatinib at a glance
Medicine class
BCR-ABL tyrosine kinase inhibitor
Main uses
Philadelphia chromosome-positive chronic myeloid leukaemia and acute lymphoblastic leukaemia
Food
Tablets may be taken with or without food; avoid grapefruit and grapefruit juice
Tablet administration
Swallow whole; do not crush, cut, chew or disperse
What is dasatinib used for?
Licensed uses represented by the selected product include:
Newly diagnosed Philadelphia chromosome-positive chronic-phase chronic myeloid leukaemia in adults.
Chronic, accelerated or blast-phase chronic myeloid leukaemia in adults where previous treatment, including imatinib, was ineffective or not tolerated.
Philadelphia chromosome-positive acute lymphoblastic leukaemia in adults.
Newly diagnosed or previously treated Philadelphia chromosome-positive chronic-phase chronic myeloid leukaemia in paediatric patients.
Newly diagnosed Philadelphia chromosome-positive acute lymphoblastic leukaemia in paediatric patients, combined with chemotherapy.
How does dasatinib work?
Dasatinib blocks BCR-ABL, an abnormal kinase that drives the growth of Philadelphia chromosome-positive leukaemia cells. It also inhibits SRC-family and several other kinases, disrupting signals that help malignant cells grow and survive.
dasatinib preparations and strengths
Tablet
Route: Oral
Strengths: 20 mg, 50 mg, 80 mg, 100 mg, 140 mg
How to take dasatinib
Take dasatinib exactly as prescribed by the specialist team.
Swallow film-coated tablets whole with water.
Do not crush, cut, chew or disperse tablets because this can alter exposure and expose the handler to the active substance.
Tablets may be taken with or without food.
Avoid grapefruit and grapefruit juice.
Do not change between tablets and oral suspension without specialist review because the formulations are not directly interchangeable.
If a tablet is accidentally broken, anyone other than the patient should wear suitable gloves when handling it.
dasatinib side effects
Common or expected effects
- Low blood-cell counts, including anaemia, neutropenia and thrombocytopenia
- Infections
- Bleeding or easy bruising
- Fluid around the lungs, breathlessness or swelling
- Diarrhoea, nausea, vomiting or abdominal pain
- Headache and fatigue
- Skin rash
- Muscle, joint or other musculoskeletal pain
- Fever
Get urgent medical advice
- New breathlessness, chest pain, dry cough or fainting, which may indicate pleural effusion, pulmonary oedema, cardiac effects or pulmonary arterial hypertension
- Fever, severe chills or other signs of serious infection, particularly with low white-cell counts
- Unexpected bleeding, black stools, blood in vomit or urine, or neurological symptoms suggesting internal bleeding
- Severe blistering or peeling of the skin or mucous membranes
- Bruising or bleeding with fever, fatigue or confusion, which may indicate thrombotic microangiopathy
- Symptoms of hepatitis, particularly in someone with previous hepatitis B infection
dasatinib in pregnancy
Dasatinib can harm a developing baby and should not be used during pregnancy unless the woman's clinical condition requires it. Sexually active men and women who could conceive should use effective contraception during treatment. Anyone planning a pregnancy, who may be pregnant or who becomes pregnant should contact the specialist team promptly rather than stopping treatment without advice.
dasatinib while breastfeeding
Breastfeeding should be stopped during dasatinib treatment because available evidence cannot exclude exposure and harm to the child. Discuss feeding plans and treatment with the haematology and maternity teams.
dasatinib interactions
Check all prescribed, non-prescribed and herbal products with the specialist pharmacist or prescriber. Important interactions include:
Strong CYP3A4 inhibitors, including clarithromycin, itraconazole, ketoconazole and ritonavir
These can increase dasatinib exposure and toxicity, so concurrent systemic use is generally avoided or requires specialist management.
CYP3A4 inducers, including rifampicin, carbamazepine, phenytoin, phenobarbital and St John’s wort
These can substantially reduce dasatinib exposure and may make treatment less effective.
Proton-pump inhibitors and H2-receptor antagonists, including omeprazole and famotidine
Reduced stomach acidity can lower dasatinib absorption, so these medicines are not recommended with it.
Common questions about dasatinib
Answers are fully visible for fast scanning and source review.
Is dasatinib chemotherapy?
It is a targeted anticancer treatment called a tyrosine kinase inhibitor. In some settings, such as paediatric Philadelphia chromosome-positive acute lymphoblastic leukaemia, it is licensed for use alongside chemotherapy.
Can dasatinib be taken with food?
Yes. Film-coated tablets can be taken with or without food.
Can dasatinib tablets be crushed or split?
No. Swallow them whole; crushing, cutting, chewing or dispersing can alter exposure and increase the risk of skin contact with the active substance.
Sources
These sources were used to prepare and review this medicine page.
Prepared and reviewed by the iatroX editorial team.