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The role of bosutinib as rescue treatment of Philadelphia chromosome-positive chronic myeloid leukemia (CML) patients after failing three previous tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs) is currently unknown. We report here the largest series (to our knowledge) of patients treated with bosutinib in fourth-line, after retrospectively reviewing 30 patients in chronic phase, and pretreated with imatinib, nilotinib, and dasatinib. With a median follow up of 11.1 months, the probability to either maintain or improve their CCyR response was 56.6% (17/30) and 11 patients (36.7%) achieved or maintained their baseline MMR. In patients not having baseline CCyR, the probabilities of obtaining CCyR, MMR, and MR4.5 were 13, 11, and 14%, respectively. The probabilities of obtaining MMR and deep molecular response MR4.5 in patients with baseline CCyR were 40.0% (6/15) and 20.0% (3/15). At 20 months, progression-free survival was 73%. Grade 3-4 hematological toxicities were more frequent in resistant than intolerant patients (45.4 vs. 0.0%). Nonhematological toxicities were also more frequent in resistant patients, being diarrhea the most conspicuous one. Bosutinib seems to be an appropriate treatment option for patients resistant or intolerant to three prior TKI's.

The role of bosutinib as rescue treatment of Philadelphia chromosome-positive chronic myeloid leukemia (CML) patients after failing three previous tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs) is currently unknown. We report here the largest series (to our knowledge) of patients treated with bosutinib in fourth-line, after retrospectively reviewing 30 patients in chronic phase, and pretreated with imatinib, nilotinib, and dasatinib. With a median follow up of 11.1 months, the probability to either maintain or improve their CCyR response was 56.6% (17/30) and 11 patients (36.7%) achieved or maintained their baseline MMR. In patients not having baseline CCyR, the probabilities of obtaining CCyR, MMR, and MR4.5 were 13, 11, and 14%, respectively. The probabilities of obtaining MMR and deep molecular response MR4.5 in patients with baseline CCyR were 40.0% (6/15) and 20.0% (3/15). At 20 months, progression-free survival was 73%. Grade 3-4 hematological toxicities were more frequent in resistant than intolerant patients (45.4 vs. 0.0%). Nonhematological toxicities were also more frequent in resistant patients, being diarrhea the most conspicuous one. Bosutinib seems to be an appropriate treatment option for patients resistant or intolerant to three prior TKI's.

Second-generation TKIs have demonstrated efficacy and an acceptable tolerability in patients (pts) with chronic myeloid leukemia (CML); however, new data from so called “off target” side effects have been published. For example, serious concerns have been raised about cardiovascular (CV) events with ponatinib, and, in lesser degree with nilotinib (NI), impeding or difficulting the treatment in patients with previous CV risk factors. Besides, patients with previous history of pleural effusion or pulmonary hypertension should avoid dasatinib (DA) if possible. Bosutinib could be a good candidate for situations which preclude the use of other TKI’s. We have previously presented efficacy data of 29 patients treated with bosutinib in forth line. The aim of this study is to report safety data of heavily CML patients treated with bosutinib in 4th line. We have studied 30 pts previously treated with imatinib (IM), dasatinib and nilotinib and 5 pts previously treated with IM-DA or NI since 2012 under the Spanish Compassionate Use Program. Patient’s baseline characteristics and previous treatments are shown in table 1. We have classified patients in 2 groups regarding to investigator-driven cause of discontinuation: intolerant (INT) or resistant (RES). At the data cutoff on June 16, 2014, the median follow up was 11.47 months (range, 2.03-45.97 months). Median duration of BOS treatment across all cohorts was 9.23 months (range, 0.63-23.40 months). We observed no significant differences in terms of Index prognostic factors (Sokal, Hasford or Eutos), sex, median duration of TKIs treatment or comorbidities. However, patients with resistance where significantly older observed: 56 years vs. 67 years (p