title: Heterogeneity of response to imatinib-mesylate (glivec) in patients with hypereosinophilic syndrome: implications for dosing and pathogenesis.
abstract: Four cases of hypereosinophilic syndrome (HES) treated with the tyrosine-kinase inhibitor imatinib-mesylate are reported. The drug was effective in three patients, but a prolonged clinical and hematological remission was obtained only in one patient, due to appearance of resistance or poor tolerability in the other cases. The dose of imatinib necessary to achieve a response ranged from 100 to 600 mg/d. One patient with evidence of a clonal T-cell population did not respond at all. We confirm the efficacy of imatinib in HES, but we also underline that type and duration of response may be variable. This could be due to different pathogenetic mechanisms of the disease in single patients.
authors.affiliation: Unit of Hematology and Stem Cell Transplantation, IRCCS "Casa Sollievo della Sofferenza", 71013 S. Giovanni Rotondo, Italy. p.musto@tin.it
authors.forename: Pellegrino
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Musto
authors.forename: Antonietta
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Falcone
authors.forename: Grazia
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Sanpaolo
authors.forename: Carlo
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Bodenizza
authors.forename: Gianni
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Perla
authors.forename: Maria Marta
authors.initials: MM
authors.lastname: Minervini
authors.forename: Nicola
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Cascavilla
authors.forename: Matteo
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Dell'Olio
authors.forename: Antonio
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: La Sala
authors.forename: Saverio
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Mantuano
authors.forename: Lorella
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Melillo
authors.forename: Michele
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Nobile
authors.forename: Potito Rosario
authors.initials: PR
authors.lastname: Scalzulli
authors.forename: Michele
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Bisceglia
authors.forename: Angelo Michele
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Carella
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001549:Benzamides; D004791:Enzyme Inhibitors / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D017681:Hypereosinophilic Syndrome / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000473:pathology; D000068877:Imatinib Mesylate; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010879:Piperazines / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D011505:Protein-Tyrosine Kinases / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors; D011743:Pyrimidines / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D012074:Remission Induction; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000473:pathology; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; D001549:Benzamides; D004791:Enzyme Inhibitors; D010879:Piperazines; D011743:Pyrimidines; D000068877:Imatinib Mesylate; D011505:Protein-Tyrosine Kinases