title: Treatment of chronic myeloid leukemia when imatinib fails.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Imatinib failure represents a major clinical challenge in the management of chronic myeloid leukemia.
  
  
  METHODS
  Definition of failure, its causes, the various approaches to the treatment of imatinib failure such as imatinib dose escalation, second-generation tyrosine kinase inhibitors and stem cell transplantation, and monitoring of residual disease are covered in this review. Selected investigational agents and the management of blast crisis are also reviewed. After reading the review the reader will understand how to manage imatinib failure.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Imatinib failure can be managed in most cases by a careful appraisal of its causes and a rational selection of treatment options.
authors.affiliation: III. Medizinische Klinik, Medizinische Fakultät Mannheim der Universität Heidelberg, Pettenkoferstrasse 22, Mannheim, Germany. ruediger.hehlmann@medma.uni-heidelberg.de
authors.forename: Rüdiger
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Hehlmann
authors.forename: Susanne
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Jung-Munkwitz
authors.forename: Susanne
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Saussele
mesh_terms: D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000378:metabolism / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001549:Benzamides; D019008:Drug Resistance, Neoplasm; D016313:Genes, abl / Q000502:physiology; D006801:Humans; D000068877:Imatinib Mesylate; D015464:Leukemia, Myelogenous, Chronic, BCR-ABL Positive / Q000188:drug therapy*; D025202:Molecular Diagnostic Techniques; D009154:Mutation; D010879:Piperazines / Q000378:metabolism / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D011743:Pyrimidines / Q000378:metabolism / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D017211:Treatment Failure
chemical_list: D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; D001549:Benzamides; D010879:Piperazines; D011743:Pyrimidines; D000068877:Imatinib Mesylate