SOUTH SAN FRANCISCO, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Researchers at the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center have developed a method that allows for the early detection of a common mechanism of resistance on drug treatment for chronic myeloid leukemia. The authors were able to detect a specific point mutation, which is associated with acquired resistance to the drugs Gleevec (imatinib mesylate), Sprycel (dasatinib), and Tasigna (nilotinib), as much as 100 days earlier than standard tests used in clinical practice today. In the future, this strategy could allow doctors to identify early relapse with this mutation (as well as others) and consider changing to alternatives earlier in treatment than they can now.
