Effective re-induction therapy with dasatinib and clofarabine in relapsed Philadelphia chromosome positive acute lymphoblastic leukemia

This case discusses a 10 year old female patient with a late relapse of Ph-chromosome positive B-cell precursor acute lymphoblastic leukaemias (ALL) who had previously been treated with chemotherapy and allogeneic stem-cell transplantation. Treatment for relapse consisted of single-agent dasatinib, followed by 2 blocks of a combination of dasatinib and clofarabine as consolidation therapy. Using this schedule both morphological and cytogenetic complete remission were obtained. This regimen was well tolerated, and no major toxicity concerns occurred. Subsequently, the patient received a 2nd stem cell transplantation from a matched unrelated donor. Unfortunately, the child died after complete molecular remission at day +104 post-transplantation, due to a disseminated adenoviral infection. We conclude that dasatinib and clofarabine combination therapy was safe and effective in this patient, and should be further explored as a salvage regimen in relapsed/refractory Philadelphia chromosome positive ALL patients.