title: Imatinib mesylate for chronic myeloid leukemia: what do we really know?
abstract: Imatinib mesylate (GleevecTM) is a tyrosine kinase inhibitor, one of a new class of anticancer drugs called signal transduction inhibitors. A systematic review of case-series reports shows imatinib, when indirectly compared to conventional therapy, improves overall 12-month survival, but not surrogate outcomes, in individuals with Philadelphia chromosome-positive chronic myeloid leukemia (Ph+ CML) in myeloid-blast crisis, and accelerated phase. Surrogate outcomes, but not overall survival, were improved in chronic phase disease. Preliminary data from one randomized controlled trial suggest imatinib has a greater impact on surrogate outcomes compared to the combination of interferonalpha and cytarabine in patients undergoing treatment for chronic phase Ph+CML, however, it is not yet known whether it prolongs or improves quality of life.
authors.forename: Don
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Husereau
mesh_terms: D002170:Canada; D017277:Drug Approval; D016527:Drug Costs; D006801:Humans; D015464:Leukemia, Myelogenous, Chronic, BCR-ABL Positive / Q000188:drug therapy*; D010879:Piperazines / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000191:economics / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D011505:Protein-Tyrosine Kinases / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors*; D011743:Pyrimidines / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000191:economics / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D016032:Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic; D014481:United States; D014486:United States Food and Drug Administration
chemical_list: D010879:Piperazines; D011743:Pyrimidines; D011505:Protein-Tyrosine Kinases