The electrochemical oxidation mechanism of the anticancer drug and kinases inhibitor dasatinib was studied by cyclic, differential pulse and square wave voltammetry using a glassy carbon electrode. Dasatinib undergoes irreversible, pH-dependent oxidation in a cascade mechanism. For electrolyte with pH < 9.0 two peaks corresponding to consecutive charge transfer reactions that involve the transfer of the same number of electrons and protons were observed. For electrolytes with pH > 9.0 only one oxidation peak was observed. The UV-Vis spectra of dasatinib were recorded as a function of pH. The thiazole moiety was identified as the electroactive centre through comparative studies with compounds with similar structures and an oxidation mechanism of dasatinib was proposed. The analytical determination of dasatinib was carried out by differential pulse voltammetry in buffer and serum samples. Adequate recovery results in spiked serum samples were obtained and the matrix effect, serum dilution and dasatinib concentration were evaluated. (C) 2015 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.