Nilotinib for treatment of chronic myeloid leukemia in light of the current evidence and guidelines

Pratap Neelakantan, Jane F Apperley

The introduction of the tyrosine kinase inhibitor imatinib, a little over a decade

ago, has greatly improved the prognosis for patients with chronic myeloid leukemia. Now

with the availability of second-generation tyrosine kinase inhibitors we anticipate further

improvements in the outcome of this disease. These agents, namely nilotinib, dasatinib and

bosutinib, have not only been effective at treatment of imatinib-resistant and/or -intolerant

patients, but are increasingly being advocated for upfront usage. In this review, we focus on

nilotinib, its pharmacology, clinical indications and side effects, and suggest guidelines for its

usage.

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Prática clínica