Cancer therapy is becoming more advanced through the development of increasingly precise and efficient treatments, and the use of targeted therapies is an example of this evolution. Acalabrutinib is one such medication that has been developed to treat some forms of blood cancer.
What Is Blood Cancer?
Blood cancer is cancer that develops in the blood cells, the bone marrow, or the lymphatic system. Some of the common types of blood cancers include leukemia, lymphoma, and myeloma. Blood cancers are caused by the development of abnormal blood cells which affect the function of normal blood cells. It may result in:
- A weakened immune system
- Frequent infections
- Fatigue
- Easily bruised or bled
Because these cancers occur in the blood, they require systemic treatment.
What Is Acalabrutinib?
It is a targeted medication for treatment of some particular blood cancers. It is an example of BTK inhibitors. The medicine does not have such a mechanism of action like the common chemotherapy drugs do, because it does not target any fast growing cells but targets only particular pathways for growth of cancer cells.
Why Is Targeted Therapy Important?
Targeted treatments have brought about a revolution in cancer treatment strategies. Standard chemotherapeutic treatment affects healthy and cancerous cells equally and causes severe side effects. Some of the benefits of targeted treatments including:
- Target only cancer mechanisms
- Minimize damage to healthy cells
- Have better tolerance
- Help achieve disease control over time
How Does The Capsule Help in Treatment?
The medicine is an anti-cancer therapy that functions by suppressing a particular type of protein referred to as Bruton’s Tyrosine Kinase (BTK). This protein is important for the development and growth of particular types of cancer cells. Without the help of the signals sent by this particular protein, the cancer cells cannot proliferate and continue to develop. Hence, Acalabrutinib blocks this signal transmission process, making the cancer cells incapable of growing further.
What Are the Uses of Medicine?
It is used for the treatment of blood cancers such as CLL, SLL, and MCL. This medication can be recommended by doctors at the early stage of the disease, if there is a need for using a targeted therapy. Moreover, it can be used by those people who could not use another treatment for some reason or in the case when the disease comes back after other treatment.
How Does Acalabrutinib Benefit Patients?
However, some of the advantages of the capsule in treating blood cancer include:
- It acts directly on cancer cells and helps minimize effects on normal cells.
- Can be taken at home via oral dosage.
- Easier to tolerate than chemotherapy.
- Good for extended treatment of chronic cancer.
What Happens to the Body While Taking The Medication?
It is important to be aware of possible side effects during the treatment. Common ones include:
- Headache
- Fatigue
- Muscle or joint pain
- Diarrhea
- Increased risk of infections
- Bleeding or bruising
However, regular check-ups and follow ups are important to monitor and manage these effects promptly.
What Brand Names Are Associated with Acalabrutinib?
The medicine is marketed by different trade names including:
They both have the same main component but may differ in the manufacturing.
How The Capsule Interact With Other Medicines?
Acalabrutinib has drug interactions with some drugs, which include:
- Medications that reduce acid production
- Anti-coagulants
- Antibiotics and antifungal agents
These drug interactions might affect the way acalabrutinib works, so discuss with the healthcare provider before using them.
Conclusion
It is one of the major breakthroughs in treating blood cancers. The targeted nature of this medication offers an opportunity to treat the condition more effectively.
Even though it does not provide a cure for cancer, this medicine plays a major role in preventing the progression of the disease.
Read More – How Does Enasidenib Help in Treating Acute Myeloid Leukemia (AML)
FAQs
1. Is it safe for pregnant ladies to use Acalabrutinib?
It is not usually advisable because of the possible risks associated with the unborn baby.
2. Can patient drive while on the treatment?
This may be dangerous if an individual suffers from dizziness or tiredness during blood cancer treatment.
References
Kriegsmann, K., Kriegsmann, M., & Witzens-Harig, M. (2018). Acalabrutinib, a second-generation Bruton’s tyrosine kinase inhibitor. In Small Molecules in Hematology (pp. 285-294). Cham: Springer International Publishing. https://library.ehaweb.org/eha/2016/21st/135187/william.wierda.acalabrutinib.a.second-generation.bruton.tyrosine.kinase.28btk29.html
Byrd, J. C., Harrington, B., O’Brien, S., Jones, J. A., Schuh, A., Devereux, S., … & Furman, R. R. (2016). Acalabrutinib (ACP-196) in relapsed chronic lymphocytic leukemia. New England Journal of Medicine, 374(4), 323-332. Https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/26641137/
Fardin, M. F., & Akter, M. (2021). Review on blood cancer and their types. J. Mol. Pharm. Regul. Aff, 3(1), 18-26. Https://www.researchgate.net/publication/357792601_Review_on_Blood_Cancer_and_their_Types
Adeyemi, S. A., Ngema, L. M., & Choonara, Y. E. (2025). Advances in targeted therapies and emerging strategies for blood cancer treatment. RSC Pharmaceutics, 2(5), 950-961.https://www.researchgate.net/publication/393234676_Advances_in_targeted_therapies_and_emerging_strategies_for_blood_cancer_treatment
Byrd, J. C., Harrington, B., O’Brien, S., Jones, J. A., Schuh, A., Devereux, S., … & Furman, R. R. (2016). Acalabrutinib (ACP-196) in relapsed chronic lymphocytic leukemia. New England Journal of Medicine, 374(4), 323-332. Https://mdanderson.elsevierpure.com/en/publications/acalabrutinib-acp-196-in-relapsed-chronic-lymphocytic-leukemia/
