Dr. Bruce A. Chabner, editor-in-chief of "The Oncologist" journal, states: "STI571 (Gleevec) represents a monumental leap forward in cancer chemotherapy … the oncologic equivalent of breaking the four-minute mile."

MIAMISBURG, Ohio — The Oncologist, the international peer-reviewed medical journal, features a new paper by Dr. Brian Druker and his Portland, Oregon team that describes the importance and use of STI571 (Gleevec, Novartis Pharmaceuticals) in the treatment of patients with chronic myelogenous leukemia (CML).

Dr. Bruce A. Chabner, editor-in-chief of The Oncologist, in an opening editorial, states that, "This issue of The Oncologist contains a memorable article by Dr. Brian Druker’s group at Oregon Health Sciences in Portland, summarizing their experience with the remarkable new drug, Gleevec (STI571) in chronic myelogenous leukemia. It follows a series of papers in The New England Journal of Medicine in April 2001, detailing remarkable activity in chronic myelogenous leukemia and in gastrointestinal stromal tumors (GIST). In this issue of The Oncologist they present previously unpublished information regarding the drug’s pharmacokinetics: its reliable absorption, long half-life, and limited acute and chronic toxicity. Taken together, this information about efficacy, toxicity, and pharmacokinetics leads to the conclusion that this drug is a paradigm for the ideal molecularly targeted drug."

Dr. Gregory A. Curt, National Cancer Institute Clinical Director and an editor of The Oncologist, suggests that, "This article gives the practicing oncologist particular insight into how targeted drug development will become increasingly important in cancer medicine."

In addressing future opportunities, Dr. Chabner states that Gleevec, "Should and will be tested against other tumors expressing appropriate receptors for the molecule, and is likely to work against chronic monomyelocytic leukemia. Trials are underway in prostate cancer, lung cancer, gliomas (brain tumors), among others."

Dr. Chabner concludes that, "STI571 (Gleevec) represents a monumental leap forward in cancer chemotherapy. It proves a principle. It justifies an approach. It demonstrates that highly specific, non-toxic therapy is possible. It does not guarantee success of similar efforts, because CML may not be typical of most other malignancies. And we have much to learn about maximizing its value. Congratulations to Novartis, to Brian Druker, and their colleagues for accomplishing the equivalent of the four-minute mile. To their colleagues in the fight against cancer, are the floodgates finally open?"

The Oncologist is a medical journal devoted to physicians who care for cancer patients. More than 21,000 physicians around the world read it. TheOncologist.com is read by more than 50,000 physicians every month online.