Imatinib (Gleevec) has become a paradigm for targeted cancer therapies. The first part of this lecture will describe the clinical features and the molecular pathogenesis of the disease for which imatinib was developed, chronic myeloid leukemia (CML). This overview will trace the history of the identification of the target of imatinib, BCR-ABL. The preclinical development of the BCR-ABL kinase... » More

Imatinib (Gleevec) has become a paradigm for targeted cancer therapies. The first part of this lecture will describe the clinical features and the molecular pathogenesis of the disease for which imatinib was developed, chronic myeloid leukemia (CML). This overview will trace the history of the identification of the target of imatinib, BCR-ABL. The preclinical development of the BCR-ABL kinase inhibitor, imatinib and highly successful clinical trials of this agent for patients with CML will be reviewed along with the most up-to-date follow-up on these studies. « Hide