Association between nilotinib-induced hyperbilirubinemia and UGT1A1 polymorphisms in a chronic myeloid leukemia patient

We present the case of a young woman diagnosed with chronic myeloid leukemia who began de-novo treatment with nilotinib, which led to increased plasma levels of total bilirubin and QT interval. An evaluation of the genetic profile of uridine diphosphate glucuronosyltransferase was made, as nilotinib inhibits the activity of this enzyme causing hyperbilirubinemia, with higher risk in slow metabolizers, such as those ones with *6/*6 genotype. This type of patient can be identified by genetic profiling, and adjustment in the dose of nilotinib could be made to avoid tyrosine kinase inhibitor switching.