Haematologica
-
Multicenter Study Clinical Trial
Imatinib mesylate as treatment for blastic transformation of Philadelphia chromosome positive chronic myelogenous leukemia.
Imatinib mesylate (STI571) is a selective inhibitor of the bcr/abl tyrosine kinase with therapeutic potential in the blast crisis (BC) of chronic myelogenous leukemia (CML). ⋯ STI571 therapy produces a high percentage of SHR in patients with CML in BC; a minority of the patients also obtain some degree of cytogenetic response. Nevertheless, these responses are transient and additional therapy should be offered.