Hydroxyurea Chronic Myeloid Leukemia CML
- Hydroxyurea (Hydrea® or Litalir® in some countries, Bristol-Myers Squibb Oncology) was introduced for the treatment of CML in 1972.
- Hydroxyurea is indicated for the treatment of CML and several other malignancies.
- Hydroxyurea therapy is superior to busulfan in CML:
- A large randomised study of 458 patients with CML in chronic phase found that patients treated with hydroxyurea had a significantly longer median survival.
- This survival advantage was present in all prognostic sub-groups.
- Hydroxyurea has a better toxicity profile than busulfan.
- It provides rapid but more transient control of haematological manifestations and thus requires frequent follow-up.
- Its main side-effects include:
- Nausea
- Vomiting
- Diarrh<ea
- Mucosal ulcers
- Skin reactions, including ulceration
Extract of CML-INFO.com