The modern era of targeted tyrosine kinase inhibitor (TKI) therapy for the treatment of human malignancies was ushered in by the BCR-ABL TKI imatinib (Gleevec) in glorious fashion by Brian Druker and colleagues.[1] Upon its approval in 2001, imatinib was rapidly adopted (despite an absence of long-term outcome and safety data) as first-line therapy for newly diagnosed chronic myeloid leukemia (...

Despite the efficacy of STI571 (Glivec, Novartis, Basle, Switzerland) in treating chronic myeloid leukemia (CML), drug resistance has already been noted both in vitro and in vivo. As plasma proteins, including alpha-1-acid glycoprotein (AGP), may reduce drug efficacy through binding, AGP was investigated for its ability to interact with STI571. At all stages of CML, AGP plasma level was signifi...

Glivec is a drug used in the treatment of chronic myeloid leukaemia (CML) and gastrointestinal stromal tumours (GISI). It is an expensive drug which would be out of reach for most patients in Kenya. Norvatis Pharmaceutical together with Axios International a healthcare management company and Max Foundation have made it possible for patients in developing countries to get access to the drug at n...

Imatinib mesylate is remarkably effective in treating chronic myeloid leukemia and metastatic gastrointestinal stromal tumors. Meanwhile, anaplastic thyroid carcinoma (ATC) remains a fatal malignancy for which there are currently no effective curative interventions. In chronic myeloid leukemia and gastrointestinal stromal tumors, imatinib inhibits the constitutive tyrosine kinase activity of BC...