title: Polycythemia vera responds to imatinib mesylate.
abstract: We report 2 patients with polycythemia vera who were demonstrated to be -negative and were unable to tolerate either hydroxyurea or interferon-alpha but who had excellent clinical responses to imatinib mesylate (STI-571). This effect is consistent with the inhibitory effect of imatinib mesylate on c-kit's tyrosine kinase activity as demonstrated by its effectiveness in patients with gastrointestinal stromal tumors.
authors.affiliation: jonesmd@bellsouth.net
authors.forename: C Michael
authors.initials: CM
authors.lastname: Jones
authors.forename: Tina Marie
authors.initials: TM
authors.lastname: Dickinson
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001549:Benzamides; D001792:Blood Platelets / Q000378:metabolism; D004791:Enzyme Inhibitors / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D005260:Female; D006400:Hematocrit; D006801:Humans; D006918:Hydroxyurea / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000068877:Imatinib Mesylate; D008875:Middle Aged; D010879:Piperazines / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D011087:Polycythemia Vera / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000378:metabolism; D011743:Pyrimidines / Q000627:therapeutic use*
chemical_list: D001549:Benzamides; D004791:Enzyme Inhibitors; D010879:Piperazines; D011743:Pyrimidines; D000068877:Imatinib Mesylate; D006918:Hydroxyurea