title: Imatinib plasma trough concentration and its correlation with characteristics and response in Chinese CML patients.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To investigate the pharmacokinetics of imatinib in Chinese chronic myelogenous leukemia (CML) patients.
  
  
  METHODS
  Fourty-six naïve Chinese CML patients treated with imatinib (400 and 600 mg daily, n=36 and 10, respectively) were recruited. The correlations of imatinib (400 mg) trough plasma concentrations (C(mins)) with the patients' characteristics and responses were analyzed.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The overall mean (+/-SD, CV%) steady-state C(mins) for imatinib at 400 mg (n=36) and 600 mg (n=10) daily was 1325.61 ng/mL (+/-583.53 ng/mL; 44%) and 1550.90 ng/mL (+/-462.63 ng/mL; 30%), respectively, and no statistically significant differences were found between them (P=0.267). At 400 mg daily, female patients had significantly higher C(mins) than the male patients (P=0.048), and molecular responses were not correlated with imatinib C(mins), but they were correlated with time elapsed before imatinib therapy.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The results suggest that Chinese CML patients have higher imatinib C(mins) than their Caucasian counterparts and that the optimal initial imatinib dose for them requires further investigation.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Hematology, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China.
authors.forename: Qiu-bai
authors.initials: QB
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: Chao
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: Zhi-chao
authors.initials: ZC
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: Hong-xiang
authors.initials: HX
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Yan-lin
authors.initials: YL
authors.lastname: Wu
authors.forename: Yong
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: You
authors.forename: Ping
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Zou
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000493:pharmacokinetics* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D044466:Asian People; D001549:Benzamides; D002681:China; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D000068877:Imatinib Mesylate; D015464:Leukemia, Myelogenous, Chronic, BCR-ABL Positive / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000503:physiopathology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010879:Piperazines / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000493:pharmacokinetics* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D011743:Pyrimidines / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000493:pharmacokinetics* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; D001549:Benzamides; D010879:Piperazines; D011743:Pyrimidines; D000068877:Imatinib Mesylate