Dasatinib is a highly potent BCR-ABL inhibitor with established efficacy and safety in imatinib-resistant/-intolerant patients with chronic myeloid leukemia (CML). In the phase 3 DASISION trial, patients with newly diagnosed chronicphase (CP) CML were randomized to receive dasatinib 100 mg (n ‫؍‬ 259) or imatinib 400 mg (n ‫؍‬ 260) once daily. Primary data showed superior efficacy for dasatinib compared with imatinib after 12 months, including significantly higher rates of complete cytogenetic response (CCyR), confirmed CCyR (primary end point), and major molecular response (MMR). Here, 24-month data are presented. Cumulative response rates by 24 months in dasatinib and imatinib arms were: CCyR in 86% versus 82%, MMR in 64% versus 46%, and BCR-ABL reduction to < 0.0032% (4.5-log reduction) in 17% versus 8%. Transformation to accelerated-/ blast-phase CML on study occurred in 2.3% with dasatinib versus 5.0% with imatinib. BCR-ABL mutations, assessed after discontinuation, were detected in 10 patients in each arm. In safety analyses, fluid retention, superficial edema, myalgia, vomiting, and rash were less frequent with dasatinib compared with imatinib, whereas pleural effusion and grade 3/4 thrombocytopenia were more frequent with dasatinib. Overall, dasatinib continues to show faster and deeper responses compared with imatinib, supporting first-line use of dasatinib in patients with newly diagnosed CML-CP. This study was registered at

From August 1989 to May 1991, 52 patients with transfusion dependent thalassaemia major received L1 (1,2-dimethyl-3- hydroxypyrid-4-one), the oral iron chelator, for a period of 3-21 months (mean +/- SD: 14.2 +/- 6.8). Mean (+/- SD) urinary iron excretion varied from 6.2 +/- 4.6 mg/d on 25 mg/kg/d of L1 to 42.3 +/- 37.1 mg/d on 100 mg/kg/d of L1. Mean (+/- SD) drop in S ferritin was 1465 +/- 990 micrograms/l after 5.0 +/- 0.8 months to 3641.2 +/- 2299.3 micrograms/l after 20.1 +/- 0.9 months of therapy. There was no evidence of neutropenia, thrombocytopenia, ear or eye toxicity. L1-related arthralgia, which was reversible on dose reduction or stoppage, was seen in 20 patients (38.5%), while minor gastrointestinal (GI) tract symptoms occurred in seven (3.5%) cases. We conclude that although L1 is an effective iron chelator, further studies are required to understand the mechanism of L1 related arthralgia and also to find a safer but effective dose on which incidence of L1 related arthralgia is minimal.

Thalassemias represent the most common single-gene disorder causing a major public health problem in India. Thalassemia and hemoglobinopathies probably developed over 7000 years ago as a defense against malaria. In simple terms, thalassemia is caused by a mutation in either the â-globin chain or the á-globin chain which combine equally in red cells to form hemoglobin. These mutations lead to varying degree of anemia resulting into thalassemia minor, intermedia or major. Present write up relates to advances in the management of â-thalassemia major.

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Iron overload is a serious and potentially fatal condition that results from multiple blood transfusions required over a long period of time to treat certain types of anemias such as, that caused by beta-thalassemia, sickle cell disease and myelodysplastic syndrome. Deferoxamine, which has been used since four decades as an iron chelator has limited efficacy due to its demanding therapeutic regimen, leading to poor compliance. Deferasirox, once daily oral iron chelator provides an effective alternative to Deferoxamine in the treatment of transfusional hemosiderosis. In this review, the role of Deferasirox as an ideal iron chelator has been discussed. Pubmed searches on Deferasirox were carried out for the same. Several studies demonstrated the safety and efficacy of Deferasirox in reducing iron burden in iron-overloaded patients with beta-thalassemia, sickle cell anemia and myelodysplastic anemia. Thus, convenient, effective and tolerable chelation therapy with oral Deferasirox is likely to be a significant development in the treatment of transfusional iron overload, due to its ability to provide constant chelation coverage and the potential to improve compliance.