This Article Full Text Full Text (PDF) eLetters: Submit a response to this article Alert me when this article is cited Alert me when eLetters are posted Alert me if a correction is posted Citation Map Services E-mail this article link to a friend Similar articles in this journal Similar articles in PubMed Alert me to new issues of the journal Download to citation manager Reprints/Permissions Citing Articles Citing Articles via HighWire Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by Guilhot, F. Search for Related Content PubMed PubMed Citation Articles by Guilhot, F.

Indications for Imatinib Mesylate Therapy and Clinical Management

Oncology Hematology and Cell Therapy, CHU La Milétrie, Poitiers, France

Correspondence: François Guilhot, M.D., Department of Hematology and Medical Oncology, Hôpital Jean Bernard, F-86021 Poitiers CEDEX, France. Telephone: 33-5-49-44-42-01; Fax: 33-5-49-44-38-63; e-mail: f.guilhot{at}chu-poitiers.fr

Imatinib mesylate (Gleevec^®, Glivec^®, formerly STI571; Novartis Pharma AG; Basel, Switzerland) is a rationally-designed, molecularly-specific oral anticancer agent that selectively inhibits several protein tyrosine kinases central to the pathogenesis of human cancer. It has demonstrated remarkable clinical efficacy in patients with chronic myeloid leukemia and malignant gastrointestinal stromal tumors. Treatment with imatinib is generally well tolerated, and the risk for severe adverse effects is low. Adverse effects most commonly include mild-to-moderate edema, nausea and vomiting, diarrhea, muscle cramps, and cutaneous reactions. Hepatic transaminase level elevations and myelosuppression occur less frequently and resolve with interruption of imatinib therapy. In general, the incidence and severity of adverse effects tend to correlate with imatinib dose and, in chronic myeloid leukemia patients, the phase of disease; but, patient age and other factors are also associated with some types of reactions. With prompt and appropriate intervention, adverse effects in imatinib-treated patients have proven to be manageable across the spectrum of severity, and they seldom require permanent cessation of therapy. Dose reduction is not usually necessary, and reduction to subtherapeutic levels is not recommended.

Key Words. Imatinib • Protein tyrosine kinase • Chronic myeloid leukemia, therapy

This article has been cited by other articles:

				H. Kantarjian, R. Pasquini, N. Hamerschlak, P. Rousselot, J. Holowiecki, S. Jootar, T. Robak, N. Khoroshko, T. Masszi, A. Skotnicki, et al. Dasatinib or high-dose imatinib for chronic-phase chronic myeloid leukemia after failure of first-line imatinib: a randomized phase 2 trial Blood, June 15, 2007; 109(12): 5143 - 5150. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				T. Seshadri, J. F. Seymour, and G. A. McArthur Oligospermia in a Patient Receiving Imatinib Therapy for the Hypereosinophilic Syndrome N. Engl. J. Med., November 11, 2004; 351(20): 2134 - 2135. [Full Text] [PDF]