Chronic Myeloid Leukemia Patients To Benefit From Promising New Drug Therapy, Canada

Main Category: Lymphoma / Leukemia
Also Included In: Cancer / Oncology
Article Date: 02 Nov 2007 - 6:00 PST

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Patients diagnosed with chronic myeloid leukemia (CML) will benefit from immediate access to a promising new drug therapy thanks to a funding commitment from the Ministry of Health, Provincial Health Services Authority and the BC Cancer Agency.

"Cancer is a horrible disease for patients and those who care for them as it touches entire families," said Health Minister George Abbott. "British Columbia is taking advantage of every opportunity in our fight for a cancer-free society. Patients with chronic myeloid leukemia will benefit from access to the latest drug therapy."

Sprycel (dasatinib), recently approved by Health Canada, is for the treatment of patients with CML who are no longer responding to Gleevec (imatinib) therapy.

"While Gleevec has been a very effective therapy for the majority of patients diagnosed with CML, a small number of patients do not respond to this drug," explains Dr. Susan O'Reilly, Vice President of Cancer Care at the BC Cancer Agency.

"The BC Cancer Agency is committed to making effective therapies available to our patients as quickly as possible," says Dr. O'Reilly, "and we're pleased to be able to provide an important alternative therapy for those CML patients who have failed prior therapy with Gleevec."

An estimated 28 patients will benefit from this therapy this fiscal year, at a projected cost of $831,000, and an estimated 55 patients will be treated in fiscal 2008/09, at a projected cost of $2 million.

In reaching a decision to fund Sprycel, the BC Cancer Agency completed a comprehensive scientific and economic review and developed guidelines for patients receiving this therapy.

CML is a blood cancer that develops as a consequence of a genetic change in the white blood cell, which creates an abnormal chromosome called the Philadelphia chromosome. The Philadelphia chromosome results in an increase in the protein "tyrosine kinase" in the white blood cell. The excess expression of tyrosine kinase causes uncontrolled growth of the leukemia cells.

Taken orally, Sprycel is a tyrosine kinase inhibitor, which specifically inactivates the activity of tyrosine kinase within the leukemia cells of patients with CML.

B.C.'s investment in cancer care and control has increased substantially in the last few years. The overall drug budget for the BC Cancer Agency increased from $37.5 million in 2000/01 to more than $114 million in the most recent fiscal year.

In 2007, an estimated 493 British Columbians will be diagnosed with leukemia and 326 will die of it. One in 99 females and one in 71 males is expected to develop leukemia during their lifetime. One in 152 females and one in 100 males is expected to die of leukemia.

The BC Cancer Agency, an agency of the Provincial Health Services Authority, is committed to reducing the incidence of cancer, reducing the mortality from cancer, and improving the quality of life of those living with cancer. It provides a comprehensive cancer control program for the people of British Columbia by working with community partners to deliver a range of oncology services, including prevention, early detection, diagnosis and treatment, research, education, supportive care, rehabilitation and palliative care. The BC Cancer Foundation raises funds to support research and enhancements to patient care at the BC Cancer Agency.

http://www.bccancer.bc.ca