title: [Molecular-target therapy of Ph-positive leukemia by imatinib (tyrosine kinase inhibitor)].
abstract: Imatinib mesylate is a 2-phenylaminopyrimidine tyrosine kinase inhibitor with specific activity for ABL, platelet-derived growth factor receptor, and c-kit receptor. The pharmacological basis of this interaction has been elucidated by crystallographic studies. Imatinib mesylate binds to the amino acids of the BCR-ABL tyrosine kinase ATP binding site and stabilizes the inactive, non-ATP-binding form of BCR-ABL, thereby preventing tyrosine autophosphorylation, and in turn, phosphorylation of its substrates. This process ultimately results in a "switch-off" of the downstream signaling pathways that promote leukemogenesis. Despite high rates of hematologic and cytogenetic responses to imatinib therapy, the emergence of resistance to imatinib has been recognized as a major problem in the treatment of Ph-positive leukemia. Considerable progress has been made in developing therapeutic agents that are effective against molecular targets specifically expressed in CML cells. It is important to emphasize that BCR-ABL is the ideal target for therapy even at relapse; at least one general mechanism of resistance involves maintenance of an active BCR-ABL kinase inside leukemic cells. It is also notable that the high frequency of BCR-ABL mutations and amplifications represents the high degree of heterogeneity in patients with advanced CML, in whom multiple leukemic clones may exist. For these reasons, a single inhibitor is unlikely to be able to block all mutants described so far.
authors.affiliation: First Department of Internal Medicine, Tokyo Medical University, 6-7-1 Nishishinjuku, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo 160-0023, Japan.
authors.forename: Tetsuzo
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Tauchi
authors.forename: Kazuma
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Ohyashiki
mesh_terms: D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001549:Benzamides; D004791:Enzyme Inhibitors / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D006801:Humans; D000068877:Imatinib Mesylate; D015464:Leukemia, Myelogenous, Chronic, BCR-ABL Positive / Q000188:drug therapy*; D010879:Piperazines / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D011505:Protein-Tyrosine Kinases / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D011743:Pyrimidines / Q000627:therapeutic use*
chemical_list: D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; D001549:Benzamides; D004791:Enzyme Inhibitors; D010879:Piperazines; D011743:Pyrimidines; D000068877:Imatinib Mesylate; D011505:Protein-Tyrosine Kinases