Chronic myeloid leukaemia (CML) is a genetically associated malignancy of 
haematopoietic stem cells, characterized by a t(9;22) translocation that forms 
the Philadelphia chromosome and creates a novel fusion gene, BCR-ABL. Treatment 
with molecular-targeted therapy is usually initiated with imatinib, an inhibitor 
of BCR-ABL tyrosine kinase. Imatinib resistance is, however, observed in some 
CML patients, especially in those with advanced disease. Through computerized 
literature searches, a systematic analysis was conducted to examine the efficacy 
and benefits of dasatinib therapy for imatinib resistant or intolerant CML 
patients in the chronic phase (CP), accelerated phase (AP) and fatal blast 
crisis phase (BC). In terms of major haematological and cytogenetic responses, 
this meta-analysis showed no significant differences in dasatinib treatment 
between myeloid BC-CML and lymphoid BC-CML patients with imatinib resistance or 
intolerance. Dasatinib therapy was, however, significantly more effective in 
improving major haematological and cytogenetic responses for CP-CML patients 
than for AP-CML patients with imatinib resistance or intolerance.