Bosutinib is a targeted cancer medicine. It is a tyrosine kinase inhibitor used for certain kinds of leukemia. You take it by mouth as prescribed by your care team.
Brand Name(s)
- United States: Bosulif
- Canada: Bosulif; REDDY-Bosutinib
Warning(s)
Serious side effects can happen with this medicine. Not everyone will have them, but it is important to know the signs and when to get help.
- Allergy risk: Get help right away for rash, hives, swelling of the face or throat, trouble breathing, or severe skin reactions.
- Low blood counts: This drug can lower white cells, red cells, and platelets. Low counts raise the risk of infection, anemia, and bleeding. You will need regular blood tests.
- Infection: You may get infections more easily. Watch for fever, chills, new cough, mouth sores, painful urination, or wounds that do not heal.
- Bleeding: Seek help for black or bloody stools, vomiting blood or material that looks like coffee grounds, nosebleeds that will not stop, or unusual bruising.
- Liver problems: Call your care team if you have yellow skin or eyes, dark urine, right‑side stomach pain, severe nausea, vomiting, or loss of appetite. Liver tests will be monitored.
- Kidney problems: Tell your team if you cannot pass urine, notice blood in urine, or have sudden weight gain or swelling.
- Heart and fluid issues: Fluid buildup and heart problems, including heart failure and reduced blood flow to the heart, have happened. Get urgent help for shortness of breath, chest pain, fast or irregular heartbeat, swelling of legs, or sudden weight gain.
- Blood pressure and electrolytes: This drug may raise blood pressure and affect salts in your body. Report severe headache, dizziness, confusion, or muscle cramps.
- Blood sugar: It may raise blood sugar. Tell your team if you have unusual thirst, more urination, drowsiness, or fruity‑smelling breath.
- Drug interactions: Many medicines interact with bosutinib, including some used for HIV, infections (like certain antifungals or antibiotics), and seizures. Acid reducers (antacids, H2 blockers, and proton pump inhibitors) can affect how your body absorbs it. Do not start, stop, or change any drug without checking with your care team.
- Food interactions: Avoid grapefruit and grapefruit juice; they can raise the level of this drug in your body.
- Pregnancy and birth control: This drug can harm an unborn baby. You may need a pregnancy test before starting. Use effective birth control while taking it and for at least 2 weeks after your last dose. If you become pregnant, call your care team right away.
- Breastfeeding: Do not breastfeed while taking this drug and for 2 weeks after the last dose.
- Fertility: This drug may affect fertility in all sexes. If you plan to become pregnant or father a child, talk with your care team.
- Tell all providers: Make sure all your doctors, dentists, nurses, and pharmacists know you are taking bosutinib.
Kind of Cancers It Is Used For (not a complete list)
- Philadelphia chromosome–positive (Ph+) chronic myeloid leukemia (CML) in adults
- Used in newly diagnosed CML or in patients who have tried other tyrosine kinase inhibitors
Your care team may use this medicine for other related leukemia settings based on your health needs.
Mechanism of Action
Bosutinib is a tyrosine kinase inhibitor (TKI). It blocks proteins that send “grow and divide” signals inside cancer cells.
- Targets BCR-ABL1, the main driver of Ph+ CML
- Also blocks some SRC family kinases involved in cancer cell survival and spread
- By turning off these signals, it can slow or stop leukemia cell growth
Common Side Effects
Many side effects are mild to moderate and improve over time. Tell your care team if they are severe, new, or do not go away. This is not a complete list.
- Diarrhea, upset stomach, stomach pain, vomiting, or decreased appetite
- Constipation
- Headache
- Dizziness, sleepiness, tiredness, or weakness
- Joint or back pain
- Cold‑like symptoms
- Nose or throat irritation
Call your care team right away for signs of allergic reaction, infection, bleeding, liver or kidney problems, heart symptoms, severe fluid buildup, very high blood sugar, or severe blood pressure or electrolyte changes.
For safety: keep all lab and clinic appointments; do not share your medicine; and talk with your pharmacist about any new drugs, vitamins, or herbal products.
Last reviewed: 2025-12-15
