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When to switch to asciminib

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I am wondering if others here feel that a switch to asciminib is warranted for my situation.

After my most recent appointment, my doctor put the wheels in motion to switch me to asciminib while we waited for my test results. This was based on my previous test which had a jump from 0.06 to 0.2%.

Fast forward to today. My prescription for asciminib showed up at my door, I have only a few days of bosutinib left, and I receive the results from my last test which technically puts me back into MMR.

My doctor feels that my results to date are "wishy washy" and wants to make the switch regardless of MMR. I suppose he prefers that I be at a DMR after 2+ years, or at a minimum stable in MMR.

He did consult a specialist after my results at 23 months (0.2%), and the specialist agreed that ponatinib or asciminib should be prescribed.

My only fear in all of this is exhausting another treatment option if it is not warranted now.

3 -1.62 2.40% -> Dasatinib
5 -2.39 0.41%
8 -2.15 0.71%
9 -2.00 1.00%
11 -2.33 0.47%
13 -2.19 0.65% -> Switch to Bosutinib
15 -2.40 0.40%
17 -2.30 0.50%
20 -3.20 0.06%
23 -2.68 0.21%
26 -3.02 0.10% -> ?????????????

Granted I've had a slow response, but your values don't look that bad to me. You are pretty much MMR with one blip. Getting to MMR at roughly 20 months is faster than I got there and I remained on Sprycel the whole time. Unless you have had issues with side effects from Bosutinib I'd recommend waiting at least another test before trying a new medication. I'm somewhat surprised the specialist recommended changing medications at 23 months. I've had a similar situation and the specialist recommended waiting longer unless the medication was adversely effecting me. That said, if you want to change medications to see how you respond and the doctor gives you the option to go back to Bosutinib if ascimib doesn't work well for you then that may not be a bad approach either. Good luck!

Ian

You have a nice downwards trend, into MMR. That's your primary treatment goal which has been achieved. Congratulations!

I see no good reason to change medication from an efficacy point of view. Stick with it - it looks like it's working for you. We can't all be super-fast responders (I sure wasn't) but there's no long-term benefit from being a fast vs a slow responder. The response is all that matters.

David.

Thanks for the kind insight Ian and David. To be honest I was ready to make the switch after the jump I had at 23 months.

I was holding out some hope that my results at 26 months would be back earlier and in MMR, possibly changing my doctor's opinion. That didn't work out as I didn't have a reserve of bosutinib, so I've had to make the switch.

My next appointment is in a month. I'm doubtful that he would advise switching back to bosutinib by that point.

I guess there's really not much to be worried about. If bosutinib was going to continue to give me decent results, changes are asciminib will be the same or better.

Hi. I’m curious about side effects of bosutinib as I recently made the switch to Asciminib myself (after failing bosutinib and dasatinib).

I will tell you that the change is like night and day. It seems that I am earlier in my treatment course (diagnosed in April 2023), but the side effects from bosutinib and dasatinib were dramatic. I feel so much better on Asciminib. For what it’s worth.

Wishing you lots of luck and good health.

Olivia

Glad to hear that you are tolerating this one well! I didn't have any side effects with dasatinib or bosutinib, and the trend has continued for me with asciminib.