Can anyone explain Sprycel to me?

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Specializes in Oncology.

I've never seen Sprycel used til recently, and I've now seen it twice- once in a patient with CML, and once in a patient with philadelphia positive ALL. I don't really get what it does, though I've looked it up, and the two times I've seen it now represents it's two indications. I see myelosuppression is a side effect. Is it considered chemo? Is it an adjunct to chemo?

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Specializes in ONC, Gyn ONC, BMT, Hospice.

Howdy, you asked this a month ago so I imagine you've gotten your answer, but if not... Sprycel is a tyrosine kinase inhibitor like imatinib (Gleevec)... so yes, chemotherapy, a targeted therapy. It causes fewer rashes than Gleevec, but can cause pleural effusions and worse myelosuppression than Gleevec. It's given when pts fail Gleevec. I understand there's some research into giving the two together, too.

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Specializes in Oncology.
Howdy, you asked this a month ago so I imagine you've gotten your answer, but if not... Sprycel is a tyrosine kinase inhibitor like imatinib (Gleevec)... so yes, chemotherapy, a targeted therapy. It causes fewer rashes than Gleevec, but can cause pleural effusions and worse myelosuppression than Gleevec. It's given when pts fail Gleevec. I understand there's some research into giving the two together, too.

Nope, I never really did get a satisfactory answer. Thank you!

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