Dasania is a brand name for Dasatinib, an oral anticancer medicine. It belongs to the group of tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs) and is mainly used for certain blood cancers.

Mechanism of Action

• Dasatinib blocks abnormal proteins called BCR-ABL tyrosine kinase that are produced due to the Philadelphia chromosome in chronic myeloid leukemia (CML) and some acute lymphoblastic leukemias (ALL).

• By inhibiting this enzyme, it stops the uncontrolled growth of cancer cells.

• It also inhibits other kinases involved in tumor growth (SRC family kinases).

  Uses

  • Chronic Myeloid Leukemia (CML) in different phases (chronic, accelerated, blast crisis).

  • Philadelphia chromosome-positive Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia (Ph+ ALL).

  • Sometimes used when patients cannot tolerate or do not respond to imatinib or other TKIs.

    Adverse Effects

    • Common: headache, diarrhea, nausea, fatigue, rash, muscle/joint pain.

    • Hematologic: low blood cell counts (anemia, neutropenia, thrombocytopenia).

    • Fluid retention: pleural effusion (fluid around lungs), peripheral edema.

    • Cardiac effects: QT prolongation, heart failure (rare but serious).

    • Infections (due to low immunity).