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Review ArticleDrug Therapy

Imatinib Mesylate — A New Oral Targeted Therapy

List of authors.
  • David G. Savage, M.D.,
  • and Karen H. Antman, M.D.

This review discusses the development and uses of imatinib mesylate, a protein tyrosine kinase inhibitor useful in the treatment of chronic myelogenous leukemia and gastrointestinal stromal tumors that was recently approved by the Food and Drug Administration. Imatinib targets platelet-derived growth factor receptor, inhibits the fusion product of the Philadelphia chromosome, and targets c-kit, a protein tyrosine kinase. The drug may also be effective in the treatment of other tumors that express platelet-derived growth factor receptor or c-kit.

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Funding and Disclosures

We are indebted to John Goldman for his helpful comments and to Brian Druker for providing helpful comments and data on adverse events.

Author Affiliations

From the Herbert Irving Comprehensive Cancer Center, Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons, New York.

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