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A review of imatinib mesilate in the treatment of patients with gastrointestinal stromal tumours and chronic myeloid leukaemia

WestawayGillis Ltd. (formerly Medicines Information Pharmacist at The Royal Marsden Hospital, UK)

Denise Blake, MSc, MRPharmS, BCOP

The North London Cancer Network, UK

Context. Imatinib mesylate (GlivecÒ, GleevecÒ, Novartis) has made a dramatic impact on the treatment available for both chronic myeloid leukaemia (CML) and gastrointestinal stromal tumours (GISTs). Both are rare diseases that have possibly been unfamiliar to many pharmacists until now.

Objective. To provide readers with a structured overview of CML and GISTs and the trial data available to support the role imatinib is playing in the treatment of these diseases.

Data sources. Published reviews and primary trial results were sourced via Medline to prepare the review. Articles published up to and including August 2002 were considered. Additionally, pertinent books were used to prepare the text and Novartis kindly supplied information currently only available on file at the company. As imatinib has only been available for a short time, all types and sizes of trials were considered for inclusion. The authors made the final decision as to the relevance and therefore subsequent inclusion of data.

Conclusions. Imatinib is a new molecularly targeted therapy for the treatment of CML and GISTs. It has provided an efficacious alternative therapy choice for physicians managing the care of patients suffering from these diseases. In the future there is the possibility that imatinib may demonstrate activity in other disease states characterized by the genetic changes targeted by imatinib. The results of randomized controlled trials in new and existing indications are awaited.

Key Words: chronic myeloid leukaemia • gastrointestinal stromal tumours • imatinib mesilate • Philadelphia chromosome • protein-tyrosine kinase

Journal of Oncology Pharmacy Practice, Vol. 9, No. 1, 1-14 (2003)
DOI: 10.1191/1078155203jp103oa


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