Abstract
Imatinib mesylate (Gleevec, Glivec, Novartis, Basel, Switzerland) is a small molecule inhibitor of the tyrosine kinase c-abl, c-kit and the platelet derived growth factor receptor (PDGFR). Imatinib was developed for the treatment of chronic myeloid leukaemia (CML) but was approved both in Europe and the US fro the treatment of CML and gastrointestinal stromal tumors (GIST). Given its activity against both c-kit and PDGFR kinases and its remarkable safety profile, imatinib has been 'tried' in several solid tumors; results however have often been deceiving. We review the current data regarding the activity of imatinib in solid tumors, including GIST.
MeSH terms
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Antineoplastic Agents / adverse effects
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Antineoplastic Agents / therapeutic use*
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Benzamides
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Dermatofibrosarcoma / drug therapy
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Female
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Fusion Proteins, bcr-abl / metabolism
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Gastrointestinal Stromal Tumors / drug therapy
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Humans
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Imatinib Mesylate
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Male
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Neoplasms / drug therapy*
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Neoplasms, Second Primary / chemically induced
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Piperazines / adverse effects
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Piperazines / therapeutic use*
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Protein Kinase Inhibitors / therapeutic use
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Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-abl / antagonists & inhibitors
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Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-kit / metabolism
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Pyrimidines / adverse effects
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Pyrimidines / therapeutic use*
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Receptors, Platelet-Derived Growth Factor / metabolism
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Skin Neoplasms / drug therapy
Substances
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Antineoplastic Agents
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Benzamides
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Piperazines
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Protein Kinase Inhibitors
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Pyrimidines
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Imatinib Mesylate
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Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-kit
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Receptors, Platelet-Derived Growth Factor
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Fusion Proteins, bcr-abl
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Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-abl