Treatment-free remission after deep molecular response of chronic myeloid leukemia in chronic phase to dasatinib

Patients with chronic myeloid leukemia in chronic phase (CML-CP) who have a sustained deep molecular response (DMR) are eligible to discontinue treatment and attempt treatment-free remission (TFR). In the DASFREE trial, CML-CP patients with stable DMR after at least 2 years of dasatinib, discontinued treatment. The 5-year TFR rate was 44%. No relapses were seen after month 39, and patients who relapsed and restarted dasatinib regained a major molecular response in a median of 1.9 months. The most common adverse event during the off-treatment period was arthralgia (18%). The authors conclude that dasatinib discontinuation is a viable option in patients with CML-CP and sustained DMR.