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Dasatinib dose reduction not going quite to plan

I've been reducing dasatinib dose for some time - from 100, to 70, to 50 and finally to 20. There's been a few months and a few PCR tests between each change. 

My first PCR on 20mg of dasatinib was taken 6 weeks after commencing that dose and was a very good 0.002% IS. 6 weeks later, it's jumped a log and it's 0.025%. 

Still MMR, but clearly was only a touch from MR5 only a few weeks ago so it's not really gone to plan. 

Nothing changes yet. I'll continue at 20mg for another 4 weeks and test again. Perhaps the PCR might just bumble around that level which would be fine. Maybe it'll drop, maybe it'll increase another log. Who knows. 

I was definitely feeling better at a low dose so fingers crossed it doesn't fly up.

Plenty to be hopeful for and while I might have a glass of wine or two and commiserate tonight, I'm not going to get worried or let it stress me out too much. 

David. 

 

David,

My fingers are crossed for you! Lower dose is so much better for overall side effects management.

A few thoughts:

1. Are you supplementing with Curcumin.

Significant research is 'hinting' that Curcumin down regulates genes necessary for leukemia proliferation. Not a cure, but may enable you to take lower dose and it be just as effective. I take 2 grams of C3 Curcumin with bioperine (pepper) per day, but when I was at a much higher PCR level, I took as much as six - eight grams per day. I still take 4 grams from time to time spread throughout the day. Curcumin impact on CML is dose dependent so more is better up to around 10 grams per day. One case where more is better. I would take more myself, but C3 is pricey. Two seems to keep me where I am.

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/26116834

https://www.nature.com/articles/s41598-018-20179-6

2. Are you taking vitamin D3

Vitamin D (which is made by the body from D3 that is ingested) is vital for immune system health including activation of T-cells which attack cancers. Evidence is emerging that high normal vitamin D levels (> 50ng/ml) activates genes which cause leukemia cell apoptosis. Not a cure, just slows down expansion of leukemia and may actually stop it growing. In combination with your low dose dasatinib, may just be the trick to get you back down again.

Keep in mind that you have plenty of time to experiment (i.e. chronic phase; no blasts) so if you have to increase dose, you can do so incrementally (e.g. 40 mg). But I do hope you regain trend down by considering the above.

https://www.curetoday.com/articles/curcumin-and-vitamin-d-treatment-may-...

(could try fasting too!)

 

 

David:

We'll all be praying that it's just a blip.  I had a blip up from undetected to <.003% about 6 months after I reduced nilotinib dose from 300 to 150 mg/day, but I have stayed at <.003% for a year now since then.  Here's hoping that your next test either stays the same or that you get that other zero back.  I think we all understand the anxiety roller-coaster around test time and that's why we've got this forum.  Hang in there and try to stay positive.

Yes, supplementing with both.

But I will be honest. I have not been massively compliant with things other than dasatinib. I have never missed a TKI dose in over 6 years, but with the arrival of my twin girls (8 months old, extremely pre-term so 5 months corrected) I have not been taking my supplements as often as I should.

This evening I have refilled my pill boxes, so the next few weeks will be different.

Scuba: you are good on supplements. I have a "Organic turmeric, with bioperine". 500mg. Maybe not the right thing? The D3 is 10,000 IU - this one.

David.

David,

The D3 is plenty. You should still have a blood test to know your level.

And of course, if you don't take the supplement, it doesn't do any good (smile).

On Curcumin. I'm not sure if this is a turmeric supplement or a true Curcumin. I suspect it is Curcumin because Bioperine is licensed by Sabinsa.

In that case, 500 mg is one pill and you would need to take 4 of these to equal my dose. You need two grams MINIMUM.

I have a suspicion, however, that your PCR test is an anomaly. We'll see. You'll be fine. Stay vigilant.

hey, david! i'm sorry about your last result, but as you also know, the test is not that reliable and you're right to wait for the next result. I remember when emma was lowering her dose for the first time and she had big bounces like that until things got more stable. Many others have big bounces even if they're not lowering their doses (like chris and me!). But, if you lose MMR i think it's better to restart at full dose (100mg) and then lower dose after things settle down, just to stay on the safe side. Good luck, buddy!

David - Very familiar with what you must be feeling - I think we all are - and commiserate with you.  On 20 mg Sprycel myself, I'm always waiting for the other shoe to drop.  Things go along pretty smoothly for awhile and we get used to our new normal, and then - bang - we're reminded of what is actually in control of us.  But, you have the right attitude, you're still safe, and the odds are on your side that it's a test-related bounce and not a harbinger of doom. I know you will keep your mind occupied before the re-test.  I like to establish a spectrum of worst-case (and what I would do about that) to best-case in my mind and then try to stop thinking about it.  Somehow, that makes me feel more prepared and in control. Keep us posted. 

Thanks!

My silver lining thought for the day was that I forgot to apply the IS correction to my results.

The Barts lab coversion factor is a rather handy 0.5 - so on IS I've gone from 0.001% to 0.0125% which though it's still a full log, it's pretty much still MR4.

David

Oh yes, that's much better!