Dasatinib, nilotinib and imatinib for untreated chronic myeloid leukaemia

What has NICE said?

Dasatinib (Sprycel), imatinib (Glivec) and nilotinib (Tasigna) are recommended as possible treatments for untreated, chronic-phase Philadelphia-chromosome-positive chronic myeloid leukaemia in adults.

What does this mean for me?

If you have chronic myeloid leukaemia, and your doctor thinks that dasatinib, imatinib or nilotinib is the right treatment, you should be able to have it on the NHS.

The condition and the treatments

Chronic myeloid leukaemia is a cancer of a type of white blood cell (called myeloid cells). These cells multiply in an uncontrolled way and stop other blood cells working properly. There are 3 main stages or 'phases' of the disease: the chronic phase (when most people are diagnosed), and the accelerated and the blast-crisis phases. Most people with chronic myeloid leukaemia have an abnormal chromosome called the Philadelphia chromosome in their cancer cells (known as Philadelphia-chromosome-positive disease).

Dasatinib, imatinib and nilotinib stop cancer cells growing and multiplying. This slows down or stops the spread of the cancer.

NHS Choices may be a good place to find out more.

These organisations can give you advice and support:

NICE is not responsible for the quality or accuracy of any information or advice provided by these organisations.

ISBN: 978-1-978-1-4731-2239-0