[STI571: a new dimension in the treatment of chronic myeloid leukemia].
Three patients suffering from chronic myelogenous leukaemia (CML), a 36-year-old woman in blast crisis, and a 64-year-old woman and a 60-year-old man in the chronic phase, participated in a clinical trial with STI571, a recently developed tyrosine kinase inhibitor with relative specificity for the BCR-ABL kinase. In all three patients, complete haematologic remission occurred within 2 months of the treatment being initiated. Subsequently the patient in blast crisis underwent allogeneic stem-cell transplantation. For the second patient, who had experienced many side effects with the standard treatment, STI571 led to a better quality of life. The third patient reached complete cytogenetic remission after 3 months of treatment. The development of STI571 is a major breakthrough in the treatment of CML. There are few side effects and the short-term results are excellent in specific patient categories. Further research is needed to establish the eventual role of STI571 in the treatment of CML.
Somers
J A E
JA
Erasmus Medisch Centrum-Daniel den Hoed Kliniek, afd. Hematologie, Groene Hilledijk 301, 3075 EA Rotterdam.
Shamelian
S O A
SO
Löwenberg
B
B
Ossenkoppele
G J
GJ
Cornelissen
J J
JJ
D000328:Adult; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001549:Benzamides; D001752:Blast Crisis / Q000188:drug therapy; D002986:Clinical Trials as Topic; D017277:Drug Approval; D004791:Enzyme Inhibitors / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D005060:Europe; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D000068877:Imatinib Mesylate; D015464:Leukemia, Myelogenous, Chronic, BCR-ABL Positive / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000473:pathology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010879:Piperazines / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D011505:Protein-Tyrosine Kinases / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors*; D011743:Pyrimidines / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D012074:Remission Induction; D014481:United States
D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; D001549:Benzamides; D004791:Enzyme Inhibitors; D010879:Piperazines; D011743:Pyrimidines; D000068877:Imatinib Mesylate; D011505:Protein-Tyrosine Kinases