Medical oncology
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Presence of the Philadelphia chromosome in acute lymphoblastic leukemia is the single most adverse prognostic marker associated with high risk of disease relapse and poor prognosis. Allogeneic haematopoietic stem cell transplantation is considered as the only curative option in adults with Philadelphia-positive acute lymphoblastic leukemia, but relapse remains the main cause of treatment failure. Moreover, long-term survival rates are markedly decreased when transplanted patients are not in complete remission. ⋯ Due to imatinib resistance, the therapy with dasatinib was started and complete molecular response was obtained. The consecutive clinical evaluation performed every 3 months during the last 18 months confirmed the absence of molecular minimal residual disease. We believe that inclusion of dasatinib into transplantation strategy allows obtaining sustained molecular remission even in patients resistant to imatinib.