Once a day nilotinib: A Real Life Observational Study

Molecular Responses after Switching from a Standard-Dose Twice-Daily Nilotinib Regimen to a Reduced-Dose Once-Daily Schedule in Patients with Chronic Myeloid Leukemia: A Real Life Observational Study (NILO-RED)

Delphine Rea, MD1, Jean-Michel Cayuela, PhD2*, Stephanie Dulucq, PhD3* and Gabriel Etienne, MD, PhD4*

Introduction

The standard dosing regimen for the BCR-ABL1 tyrosine kinase inhibitor (TKI) nilotinib in chronic myeloid leukaemia (CML) is 300mg twice daily (BID) in the frontline setting and 400mg BID in the 2nd line setting or beyond. Patients (pts) are instructed to fast within 2 hours before and 1 hour after medication intake due to significant high-fat food effects on drug bioavailability. On-label dose adjustments to a lower-dose once-daily (QD) regimen are recommended solely in case of significant toxicity. 

Conclusion

Switching to a nilotinib QD regimen at reduced doses as maintenance therapy after achievement of a MMR on standard-dose nilotinib BID schedule is feasible and safe in chronic phase CML pts regardless of prior treatment history and does not compromise the anti-leukemic efficacy of nilotinib. Our results may pave the way for clinical trials aiming at systematic avoidance of overtreatment and improvement of pts convenience in treatment with nilotinib.

Full Paper

http://www.bloodjournal.org/content/130/Suppl_1/318