7 replies to this topic

[survenant]

See         BCR-ABL Tyrosine Kinase Inhibitors May Increase Cardiovascular Events in Chronic Myeloid Leukemia

 

 

See also      Side effects on heart

[scuba]

This has been covered in other threads ...

 

But, yes - TKI's (second gen, in particular) are nasty. They are not normal to the body and are toxic. But ... CML untreated is worse. Pick your poison.

[survenant]

''From clinical point of view, therapy with clinically available TZDs (pioglitazone or rosiglitazone) may raise some doubts. Rosiglitazone has been withdrawn from European market (although it is still available in the United States) because of reports on increased cardiovascular risk, whereas pioglitazone has been correlated with increased risk of bladder cancer. On the other hand, these potential adverse effects are still not unambiguously confirmed and were observed only after long-time treatment. The benefit of such treatment in patients with leukemia can overweight potential risk, and therefore the use of TZDs (including withdrawn troglitazone) can be justified. Moreover, pioglitazone is known to reduce cardiovascular risk in various clinical settings and is currently tested for secondary prevention after ischemic stroke in patients with diabetes.⁸ This protective effect might be beneficial in relation to the risk of serious cardiovascular side effects of TKIs.''

Extract of http://www.nature.co...cj2015109a.html

[r06ue1]

Just need to wait and see if newer drugs coming soon will be less toxic to our bodies, until then, we are sort of stuck with what we have.

[Trey]

''.... pioglitazone is known to reduce cardiovascular risk in various clinical settings and is currently tested for secondary prevention after ischemic stroke in patients with diabetes.⁸ This protective effect might be beneficial in relation to the risk of serious cardiovascular side effects of TKIs.''

 

TZD drugs significantly lower platelets, which is why they reduce strokes.  But there are other drugs with less risk which can do that.  And many CML patients cannot handle the low platelets anyway.

[Terran]

As I'm seeing a cardiologist now at age 45 after one year on tasigna, I think there's something to the cardiac risk

[Cliffee]

My Onc, Dr. Leis, at Mayo said there's a ton of money being spent by drug companies to come up with even better/less toxic CML therapies.

He is a researcher that worked with Brian Druker on Gleevac years ago.

[rcase13]

My Onc, Dr. Leis, at Mayo said there's a ton of money being spent by drug companies to come up with even better/less toxic CML therapies.
He is a researcher that worked with Brian Druker on Gleevac years ago.

That is exciting to hear! That way I am happy and the drug companies keep making profits!