Nilotinib for treatment of chronic myeloid leukemia in light of the current evidence and guidelines

SUMMARY The introduction of the tyrosine kinase inhibitor imatinib, a little over a decade ago, has greatly improved the prognosis for patients with chronic myeloid leukemia. Now with the availability of second-generation tyrosine kinase inhibitors we anticipate further improvements in the outcome of this disease. These agents, namely nilotinib, dasatinib and bosutinib, have not only been effective at treatment of imatinib-resistant and/or -intolerant patients, but are increasingly being advocated for upfront usage. In this review, we focus on nilotinib, its pharmacology, clinical indications and side effects, and suggest guidelines for its usage.