BCR-ABL, a constitutively active tyrosine kinase, causes chronic myeloid leukaemia (CML). Rational development of drugs targeting BCR-ABL has significantly improved the treatment of CML. Imatinib (a BCR-ABL tyrosine kinase inhibitor) produces haematological and cytogenetic remissions across all phases of CML and is the present standard of care. However, imatinib resistance occurs in a significant proportion of patients and mechanisms of resistance include BCR-ABL mutations and activation of alternate oncogenic pathways. Dasatinib is a novel, potent, multi-targeted oral kinase inhibitor. Preclinical and clinical investigations demonstrate that dasatinib effectively overcomes imatinib resistance and has further improved the treatment of CML.

        Key words: chronic myeloid leukemia – dasatinib – imatinib – transplantation