Anti-cancer drugs
-
STI571 (imatinib mesylate) is an example of the successful development of a targeted agent. Its target is the constitutively active tyrosine kinase (p210bcr-abl) in a hematologic neoplasm, chronic myelogenous leukemia (CML). ⋯ This article reviews the pre-clinical and clinical development of this agent and also discusses some of the prevailing theories to explain the emerging problem of resistance. Future directions for this drug, possibly directed at other targets, are also discussed.