Abstract
Imatinib mesylate is a selective tyrosine kinase inhibitor that is successfully used in the treatment of chronic myeloid leukaemias and gastrointestinal stromal tumours. The drug is taken orally on a daily basis in order to suppress tumour growth. Unfortunately, the vast majority of patients will eventually progress while on therapy. It is generally thought that this acquired unresponsiveness is due to gene amplification or somatic mutations in the drug's target genes. However, we have now evidence, based on several in vitro and in vivo observations suggesting that pharmacokinetic resistance may also play a definitive role in the ultimate resistance of patients on chronic imatinib. Our findings may have serious implications for the chronic imatinib treatment of cancer patients.
MeSH terms
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ATP Binding Cassette Transporter, Subfamily B, Member 1 / genetics
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ATP Binding Cassette Transporter, Subfamily B, Member 1 / metabolism*
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ATP Binding Cassette Transporter, Subfamily G, Member 2
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ATP-Binding Cassette Transporters / genetics
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ATP-Binding Cassette Transporters / metabolism*
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Administration, Oral
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Benzamides
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Biological Availability
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Drug Resistance, Neoplasm*
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Humans
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Imatinib Mesylate
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Neoplasm Proteins / genetics
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Neoplasm Proteins / metabolism*
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Piperazines / metabolism*
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Piperazines / pharmacokinetics*
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Pyrimidines / metabolism*
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Pyrimidines / pharmacokinetics*
Substances
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ABCG2 protein, human
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ATP Binding Cassette Transporter, Subfamily B, Member 1
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ATP Binding Cassette Transporter, Subfamily G, Member 2
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ATP-Binding Cassette Transporters
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Benzamides
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Neoplasm Proteins
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Piperazines
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Pyrimidines
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Imatinib Mesylate