title: Imatinib mesylate in the treatment of hematologic malignancies.
abstract: The treatment of hematologic malignancies has been based for many years on chemotherapy and possibly, for the more aggressive forms, stem cell transplantation. In 2001, the signal transduction inhibitor 571 (STI571, imatinib mesylate) was reported to have striking effects in chronic myeloid leukaemia patients. Since then, imatinib became the first molecular-targeted agent approved for the treatment of human cancer and was later on demonstrated to be effective in other malignancies, such as Philadelphia positive acute lymphoid leukemia, hypereosinophilic syndromes, gastrointestinal stromal tumours and more recently, systemic mastocytosis and other myeloprolipherative disease-carrying platelet-derived growth factor receptor abnormalities. In this article, the authors review the evidence which led to imatinib approval in the treatment of several of the above mentioned diseases.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Haematology and Medical Oncology L and A Seràgnoli, S. Orsola-Malpighi Hospital, University of Bologna, Molecular Pathology Laboratory, Unit of Hematopathology, Via Massarenti, 9-40138 Bologna, Italy. pierpaolo.piccaluga@unibo.it
authors.forename: Pier Paolo
authors.initials: PP
authors.lastname: Piccaluga
authors.forename: Michela
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Rondoni
authors.forename: Stefania
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Paolini
authors.forename: Gianantonio
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Rosti
authors.forename: Giovanni
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Martinelli
authors.forename: Michele
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Baccarani
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000493:pharmacokinetics / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001549:Benzamides; D004347:Drug Interactions; D004351:Drug Resistance; D016044:Fusion Proteins, bcr-abl / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D019337:Hematologic Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000201:enzymology / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D017681:Hypereosinophilic Syndrome / Q000188:drug therapy; D000068877:Imatinib Mesylate; D007945:Leukemia, Lymphoid / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000235:genetics; D015464:Leukemia, Myelogenous, Chronic, BCR-ABL Positive / Q000188:drug therapy; D034721:Mastocytosis, Systemic / Q000188:drug therapy; D009196:Myeloproliferative Disorders / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D015514:Oncogene Proteins, Fusion / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D010677:Philadelphia Chromosome; D010879:Piperazines / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000493:pharmacokinetics / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D047428:Protein Kinase Inhibitors / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000493:pharmacokinetics / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D011743:Pyrimidines / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000493:pharmacokinetics / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D020796:Receptor, Platelet-Derived Growth Factor alpha / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D017479:Receptors, Platelet-Derived Growth Factor / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D015398:Signal Transduction / Q000187:drug effects; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D039221:mRNA Cleavage and Polyadenylation Factors / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; D001549:Benzamides; D015514:Oncogene Proteins, Fusion; D010879:Piperazines; D047428:Protein Kinase Inhibitors; D011743:Pyrimidines; D039221:mRNA Cleavage and Polyadenylation Factors; D000068877:Imatinib Mesylate; C479819:FIP1L1-PDGFRA fusion protein, human; D020796:Receptor, Platelet-Derived Growth Factor alpha; D017479:Receptors, Platelet-Derived Growth Factor; D016044:Fusion Proteins, bcr-abl