David J. Andorsky, MD a leading hematologist, discusses key findings and future directions of the ASC2ESCALATE study in chronic myeloid leukemia (CML). Speaking from his clinical perspective, Dr. Andorsky explores the use of asciminib, a well-tolerated tyrosine kinase inhibitor, and its role in both newly diagnosed and previously treated patients. He highlights how dose escalation—a practice once common with imatinib—is now being re-evaluated for asciminib to optimize patient outcomes.
Dr. Andorsky shares his anticipation for upcoming data that will reveal how many patients required dose escalation and, importantly, how many responded to the adjusted dosing strategy. This evidence could help guide treatment for patients who are not reaching therapeutic milestones with standard doses.
One of the most promising areas he addresses is treatment discontinuation. Patients with sustained deep molecular responses—typically those on therapy for more than three years—may be eligible to stop treatment altogether. According to current data, about 40–50% of these patients remain off therapy long-term. For many, this represents a hopeful shift away from lifelong medication, minimizing even low-grade side effects and reducing long-term treatment costs.
Looking ahead, Dr. Andorsky emphasizes two pressing unmet needs in CML research: improving strategies for treatment discontinuation and developing better options for patients who are refractory or carry resistance mutations. These insights underscore the need for continued innovation in the field and bring hope for more tailored and finite treatment strategies in the future.
© 2025 Mashup Media, LLC, a Formedics Property. All Rights Reserved.