Imatinib: a targeted clinical drug development.
Imatinib (Gleevec) (formerly STI571) is an orally bioavailable rationally developed inhibitor of the tyrosine kinases Bcr-Abl, Kit, and platelet-derived growth factor receptor (PDGFR). In 4 years of clinical development, more than 12,000 patients have been treated in the clinical development program. Imatinib was first shown to be highly effective in the treatment of all stages of chronic myelogenous leukemia (CML). Moreover, preliminary results of a randomized study have demonstrated superior efficacy and safety of first-line imatinib therapy compared with a combination of interferon and cytarabine. Imatinib has also been shown to be the only effective drug therapy in the treatment of patients with metastatic gastrointestinal stromal tumors expressing the stem cell factor (SCF) receptor Kit. This review outlines the successive steps in the clinical development of this new, targeted anticancer agent.
Capdeville
Renaud
R
Novartis Oncology, Novartis Pharma AG, Basel, Switzerland; and Novartis Oncology, Novartis Pharmaceutical Corp, Florham Park, NJ, USA.
Silberman
Sandra
S
D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001549:Benzamides; D016503:Drug Delivery Systems; D006801:Humans; D000068877:Imatinib Mesylate; D015464:Leukemia, Myelogenous, Chronic, BCR-ABL Positive / Q000188:drug therapy; D010879:Piperazines / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D019009:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-kit / Q000187:drug effects; D011743:Pyrimidines / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D017479:Receptors, Platelet-Derived Growth Factor / Q000187:drug effects; D016896:Treatment Outcome
D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; D001549:Benzamides; D010879:Piperazines; D011743:Pyrimidines; D000068877:Imatinib Mesylate; D019009:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-kit; D017479:Receptors, Platelet-Derived Growth Factor