CML-CP: Bosutinib outscores imatinib as a frontline treatment option in Asian subpopulation

Key clinical point: Bosutinib was more effective than imatinib as first-line treatment of newly diagnosed chronic-phase chronic myeloid leukemia (CML-CP) with manageable toxicity, particularly in the Asian subpopulation of BFORE trial.

Major finding: Rates of major molecular response favored bosutinib vs. imatinib, particularly more in Asian (odds ratio [OR], 2.28; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.87-5.97) than non-Asian (OR, 1.43; 95% CI, 0.99-2.07) subpopulation. Grade 3/4 treatment-emergent adverse events were more frequent with bosutinib vs. imatinib (72.7% vs. 36.4%) but were manageable.

Study details: This study evaluated 536 patients (Asian, n=67; non-Asian, n=469) with newly diagnosed CML-CP from the phase 3 BFORE trial randomly allocated to either bosutinib or imatinib.

,

Disclosures: This study was sponsored by Pfizer. The lead author and some of his coinvestigators reported advisory roles, speaker fees, owning stock in, being an employee of, receiving support from, and/or consulting for various pharmaceutical companies, including Pfizer.

Source: Chuah C et al. Int J Hematol. 2021 Apr 13. doi: 10.1007/s12185-021-03144-4.