Imatinib Mesylate (Gleevec)

Imatinib Mesylate (Gleevec)

This page contains brief information about imatinib mesylate and a collection of links to more information about the use of this drug, related news and research results, and ongoing clinical trials.

US Brand Name(s):  Gleevec

FDA Approved: Yes

Imatinib mesylate is approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to treat the following conditions:

Different types of leukemia:
Philadelphia chromosome positive chronic myelogenous leukemia.
Hypereosinophilic syndrome or chronic eosinophilic leukemia.
Relapsed or refractory Philadelphia chromosome positive acute lymphoblastic leukemia.
Gastrointestinal stromal tumor (GIST).
Dermatofibrosarcoma protuberans.
Myelodysplastic /myeloproliferative disorders.
Systemic mastocytosis.
Imatinib mesylate is also being studied in the treatment of other types of cancer.

Information from the NCI
Definition from the NCI Drug Dictionary 4 - Detailed scientific definition and other names for this drug.

Clinical Trial Results: Imatinib Reduces Cancer Recurrence in Patients with Surgically Removed Gastrointestinal Stromal Tumor (GIST) (06/25/2007) 5 - Important clinical trial results for this drug, background information, and how the trial was done.

Clinical Trial Results: Imatinib 'Treatment Holiday' Risks Disease Progression (04/17/2007) 6 - Important clinical trial results for this drug, background information, and how the trial was done.

Clinical Trial Results: Imatinib Mesylate Confirmed as More Effective Than Conventional Therapy for Chronic Myelogenous Leukemia (CML) (05/20/2002) 7 - Important clinical trial results for this drug, background information, and how the trial was done.

Clinical Trial Results: Imatinib Meslyate Looks Even Better for Chronic Myelogenous Leukemia (03/14/2002) 8 - Important clinical trial results for this drug, background information, and how the trial was done.

Clinical Trial Results: Imatinib Mesylate Shows Promise for Type of Gastrointestinal Tumor (07/20/2001) 9 - Important clinical trial results for this drug, background information, and how the trial was done.

Clinical Trial Results: Imatinib Mesylate Proves Itself in Chronic Myeloid Leukemia (04/05/2001) 10 - Important clinical trial results for this drug, background information, and how the trial was done.

Gleevec Decreases Cancer Recurrence for Patients with Primary Gastrointestinal Stromal Tumor (04/12/2007) 11 - Information from the NCI Press Office about this drug.

FDA Approves Important New Leukemia Drug (05/10/2001) 12 - Information from the NCI Press Office about this drug.

Gleevec: Questions and Answers (05/10/2001) 13 - Information about the use of this drug to treat cancer.

Information from the National Library of Medicine (NLM)
MedlinePlus Information on Imatinib Mesylate 14 - A lay language summary of important information about this drug that may include the following:

warnings about this drug,
what this drug is used for and how it is used,
what you should tell your doctor before using this drug,
what you should know about this drug before using it,
other drugs that may interact with this drug, and
possible side effects.
Drugs are often studied to find out if they can help treat or prevent conditions other than the ones they are approved for. This NLM patient information sheet applies only to approved uses of the drug. However, much of the information may also apply to unapproved uses that are being studied.

Clinical Trials
Clinical Trials for Imatinib Mesylate 15 - Check for trials from NCI's PDQ Cancer Clinical Trials Registry now accepting patients.

Important: The drug information on this Web page is meant to be educational. It is not a substitute for medical advice. The information may not cover all possible uses, actions, interactions, or side effects of this drug, or precautions to be taken while using it. Please see your health care professional for more information about your specific medical condition and the use of this drug.

Glossary Terms
acute lymphoblastic leukemia (uh-KYOOT LIM-foh-BLAS-tik loo-KEE-mee-uh)
An aggressive (fast-growing) type of leukemia (blood cancer) in which too many lymphoblasts (immature white blood cells) are found in the blood and bone marrow. Also called acute lymphocytic leukemia and ALL.
cancer (KAN-ser)
A term for diseases in which abnormal cells divide without control and can invade nearby tissues. Cancer cells can also spread to other parts of the body through the blood and lymph systems. There are several main types of cancer. Carcinoma is a cancer that begins in the skin or in tissues that line or cover internal organs. Sarcoma is a cancer that begins in bone, cartilage, fat, muscle, blood vessels, or other connective or supportive tissue. Leukemia is a cancer that starts in blood-forming tissue such as the bone marrow, and causes large numbers of abnormal blood cells to be produced and enter the blood. Lymphoma and multiple myeloma are cancers that begin in the cells of the immune system. Central nervous system cancers are cancers that begin in the tissues of the brain and spinal cord. Also called malignancy.
chronic eosinophilic leukemia (KRAH-nik EE-oh-SIH-noh-FIH-lik loo-KEE-mee-uh)
A disease in which too many eosinophils (a type of white blood cell) are found in the bone marrow, blood, and other tissues. Chronic eosinophilic leukemia may stay the same for many years, or it may progress quickly to acute leukemia.
chronic myelogenous leukemia (KRAH-nik MY-eh-LAH-jeh-nus loo-KEE-mee-uh)
A slowly progressing disease in which too many white blood cells (not lymphocytes) are made in the bone marrow. Also called chronic granulocytic leukemia, chronic myeloid leukemia, and CML.
dermatofibrosarcoma protuberans (DER-ma-toe-FI-bro-sar-KO-ma pro-TOO-ber-anz)
A type of tumor that begins as a hard nodule and grows slowly. These tumors are usually found in the dermis (the inner layer of the two main layers of tissue that make up the skin) of the limbs or trunk of the body. They can grow into surrounding tissue but do not spread to other parts of the body. These tumors are related to giant cell fibroblastomas.
Food and Drug Administration
An agency in the U.S. federal government whose mission is to protect public health by making sure that food, cosmetics, and nutritional supplements are safe to use and truthfully labeled. The Food and Drug Administration also makes sure that drugs, medical devices, and equipment are safe and effective, and that blood for transfusions and transplant tissue are safe. Also called FDA.
gastrointestinal stromal tumor (GAS-troh-in-TES-tih-nul STROH-mul TOO-mer)
A type of tumor that usually begins in cells in the wall of the gastrointestinal tract. It can be benign or malignant. Also called GIST.
leukemia (loo-KEE-mee-uh)
Cancer that starts in blood-forming tissue such as the bone marrow and causes large numbers of blood cells to be produced and enter the bloodstream.
myelodysplastic syndromes (MY-eh-loh-dis-PLAS-tik SIN-dromz)
A group of diseases in which the bone marrow does not make enough healthy blood cells. Also called preleukemia and smoldering leukemia.
myeloproliferative disorder (MY-eh-loh-pruh-LIH-feh-RUH-tiv dis-OR-der)
A group of slow growing blood cancers, including chronic myelogenous leukemia, in which large numbers of abnormal red blood cells, white blood cells, or platelets grow and spread in the bone marrow and the peripheral blood.
Philadelphia chromosome (FIH-luh-DEL-fee-uh KROH-muh-some)
An abnormality of chromosome 22 in which part of chromosome 9 is transferred to it. Bone marrow cells that contain the Philadelphia chromosome are often found in chronic myelogenous leukemia.
positive test result (PAH-zih-tiv ... reh-ZULT)
A test result that reveals the presence of a specific disease or condition for which the test is being done.
refractory cancer
Cancer that does not respond to treatment. The cancer may be resistant at the beginning of treatment or it may become resistant during treatment. Also called resistant cancer.
relapse
The return of signs and symptoms of cancer after a period of improvement.
systemic mastocytosis (sis-TEH-mik MAS-toh-sy-TOH-sis)
A rare disease in which too many mast cells (a type of immune system cell) are found in the skin, bones, joints, lymph nodes, liver, spleen, and gastrointestinal tract. Mast cells give off chemicals such as histamine that can cause flushing (a hot, red face), itching, abdominal cramps, muscle pain, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, low blood pressure, and shock.

Table of Links
1 http://www.cancer.gov/cancertopics/druginfo/alphalist
2 http://www.cancer.gov/clinicaltrials/learning/approval-process-for-cancer-drugs
3 http://www.cancer.gov/cancertopics/factsheet/Therapy/investigational-drug-access
4 http://www.cancer.gov/Templates/drugdictionary.aspx?CdrID=37862
5 http://www.cancer.gov/clinicaltrials/results/imatinib-GIST0607
6 http://www.cancer.gov/clinicaltrials/results/GIST0407
7 http://www.cancer.gov/clinicaltrials/results/gleevec-superior-for-cml0502
8 http://www.cancer.gov/clinicaltrials/results/gleevec-looks-better0302
9 http://www.cancer.gov/clinicaltrials/results/gleevec-shows-promise0202
10 http://www.cancer.gov/clinicaltrials/results/sti571-proves-itself0401
11 http://www.cancer.gov/newscenter/pressreleases/GISTtrial
12 http://www.cancer.gov/newscenter/gleevecpressrelease
13 http://www.cancer.gov/cancertopics/factsheet/gleevecqa
14 http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/druginfo/meds/a606018.html
15 http://www.cancer.gov/Search/ClinicalTrialsLink.aspx?id=37862&idtype=1