Hagop M. Kantarjian, MD

Hagop M. Kantarjian, MD, professor, Department of Leukemia, Division of Cancer Medicine, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, discusses the evolving and future role of chemotherapy in the treatment paradigm of acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL).

Kantarjian explains that he is unsure how the role of chemotherapy will evolve in the coming years. Historically, he says, it is likely that there will be developments of novel targeted therapies that could be potentially combined with standard chemotherapy. However, chemotherapy in children and adults with ALL can be intensive and cumbersome, as it requires 3 years of treatment and is associated with many adverse events.

Therefore, possible steps that researchers can take in this area involve reducing the intensity, need, and duration of chemotherapy. This is likely, Kantarjian explains, as monoclonal antibodies have been found to be superior to chemotherapy and induce remissions in patients.

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Hagop M. Kantarjian, MD, professor, department of Leukemia, division of Cancer Medicine, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, discusses the evolving and future role of chemotherapy in the treatment paradigm of acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL).

Dr. Kantarjian on Future Role of Chemotherapy in Patients With ALL

Hagop M. Kantarjian, MD, Department Chair, Department of Leukemia, Division of Cancer Medicine, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, discusses the optimal frontline therapy for patients with chronic phase chronic myelogenous leukemia (CML).

Kantarjian notes that the three approved tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs) for CML are excellent choices for patients. The decision to use dasatinib, nilotinib, or imatinib as the frontline therapy depends on multiple factors. Overall, in recent trials, the second-generation TKIs dasatinib and nilotinib have resulted in greater molecular and cytogenetic responses, when compared to imatinib.

At this time, Kantarjian notes that dasatinib and nilotinib should be used as the frontline treatment for CML, since they demonstrated greater efficacy in clinical trials. In addition to improving response, these agents are also associated with fewer chronic side effects.

Hagop M. Kantarjian, MD, from MD Anderson Cancer Center, discusses the optimal frontline therapy for patients with chronic phase chronic myelogenous leukemia.

Author | Hagop M. Kantarjian, MD

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Dr. Kantarjian on Future Role of Chemotherapy in Patients With ALL

Dr. Kantarjian on the Optimal Frontline Treatment for CML