Nihon rinsho. Japanese journal of clinical medicine
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STI571(imatinib) selectively inhibits the ABL-tyrosine kinase, the activity of which is activated by the formation of chimeric BCR/ABL. Phase I study in USA showed a remarkable effectiveness of STI571 in interferon-refractory chronic myelogenous leukemia with little adverse effects. STI571 will plausibly become the first choice drug prior to stem cell transplantation and interferon in the treatment of this leukemia.