A study by Adelaide University and SAHMRI published in Leukemia demonstrates that targeted therapy asciminib suppresses the cancer-driving BCR::ABL1 protein significantly faster and more strongly than established drugs imatinib and nilotinib within one week. With 25% of chronic myeloid leukemia patients developing resistance to current therapies and only 25% reaching treatment-free remission, researchers used a novel measurement method showing asciminib also overcomes specific high-risk genetic mutations.
Superior efficacy of asciminib
- ▪A study published in Leukemia by Adelaide University and SAHMRI found asciminib achieved stronger suppression of the cancer-driving BCR::ABL1 protein within one week than imatinib or nilotinib.
- ▪Asciminib successfully blocked abnormal cell growth drivers in chronic myeloid leukemia patients carrying a specific genetic mutation known to increase treatment failure risk.
- ▪In the Adelaide University study comparing leukemia treatments, none of the chronic myeloid leukemia patients receiving asciminib experienced the poorer drug responses sometimes seen with imatinib or nilotinib.
New measurement method for treatment response
- ▪The new measurement method allows doctors to determine earlier if a chronic myeloid leukemia patient is responding well to asciminib treatment.
- ▪Adelaide University and SAHMRI researchers developed a new measurement method to assess how effectively therapies switch off the cancer-driving BCR::ABL1 protein inside chronic myeloid leukemia patients' blood cells.
Personalising treatment based on individual biology
- ▪Researchers at Adelaide University advocate guiding chronic myeloid leukemia treatment decisions by individual cancer biology rather than a standardized one-size-fits-all approach.
- ▪Adelaide University researchers noted that secondary patient factors beyond specific genetic mutations may still influence chronic myeloid leukemia treatment outcomes.
- ▪Associate Professor Chung Hoow Kok stated that combining genomic testing with treatment monitoring helps identify chronic myeloid leukemia patients who require additional therapies or more frequent reviews.
Limitations of current leukemia treatments
- ▪Only 25% of the more than 7,000 Australia residents living with chronic myeloid leukemia ever achieve treatment-free remission.
- ▪Approximately 25% of chronic myeloid leukemia patients develop resistance or intolerance to existing tyrosine kinase inhibitor medications such as imatinib and nilotinib.
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