Role of dasatinib in the management of lung cancer: A meta-analysis of clinical trials.

Lung cancer, particularly non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC), the leading cause of cancer-related deaths worldwide, has prompted extensive research into innovative treatments, including targeted therapies. The present meta-analysis aims to evaluate the efficacy of dasatinib, both as monotherapy and in combination with other therapies, for the treatment of lung cancer. Adhering to the PRISMA guidelines, a meticulous, thorough review of clinical trials was conducted across reputable databases, including Google Scholar, PubMed/MEDLINE, and EMBASE, focusing on studies published in English up to May 5th, 2024. Inclusion criteria were restricted to randomized clinical trials (RCTs) assessing the efficacy of dasatinib, either as a standalone therapy or in combination with other treatments. The search identified 55 studies, of which nine RCTs met the inclusion criteria: four phase II, three phase I, and two phase I/II. A total of 234 patients participated, with 107 receiving dasatinib alone and 127 undergoing combination therapy. Histological analyses revealed that 79.1% of patients had non-small cell lung cancer, with adenocarcinoma being the predominant subtype (63.8%), followed by squamous cell carcinoma (22.1%). Treatment responses varied, with 52.4% of the patients in the dasatinib alone group experiencing progressive disease, while 38.3% achieved stable disease; by contrast, 29.6% of patients in the combination therapy showed progressive disease. Adverse events, including anemia and fatigue, were more prevalent with combination therapies. Dasatinib treatment shows potential for improving overall survival with fewer adverse events compared with combination therapies in patients with lung cancer; however, large-scale clinical trials are essential to confirm its efficacy as a standalone treatment.
Competing Interests: The authors declare that they have no competing interests.
(Copyright: © 2025 Abdalla et al.)