Tyrosine kinase inhibitorFDA-approvedFirst-line
Imatinib
How it works
Blocks the BCR-ABL tyrosine kinase enzyme, which is overactive in CML cells, and also inhibits other tyrosine kinases involved in cancer growth.
Cancer types
Leukemia— BCR-ABL-positive
Efficacy
In clinical trials, around 90% of BCR-ABL-positive patients achieved a major cytogenetic response, with a median progression-free survival of approximately 8 years.
Side effects
Moderate
Side effects can be significant and may require dose adjustments or supportive medication, but the treatment is usually continued.
Evidence from research
| Study | Cancer type | Stage | Efficacy | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Combining Imatinib and Zebularine May Help Treat Colorectal Cancer | Colorectal Cancer | lab-study | — | Source → |
| Imatinib Triggers Early Changes in Cancer Cells | Leukemia | lab-study | — | Source → |
| Pregnancy Risks with Leukemia Medications | Leukemia | observational | — | Source → |
| Ponatinib Improves Quality of Life for Leukemia Patients | Leukemia | phase-3 | — | Source → |
| Monitoring Imatinib in Children with Leukaemia | Leukemia | observational | Correlation of IMA C >1000 ng/mL with achieving OMR demonstrated in each 63% (N = 24/37, N = 27/43, respectively) patients at months 3 and 6. | Source → |
| New Nanoformulation Targets Metastatic Ovarian Cancer | Ovarian Cancer | lab-study | — | Source → |
| Combining treatments for lung cancer and blood disorder | Lung Cancer | observational | — | Source → |
| Microfluidic Chips Speed Up Cancer Drug Testing | Leukemia | lab-study | Significant increased apoptosis was seen in K562 cells treated with imatinib in the microfluidic device compared to cells treated with imatinib in 24- and 96-well plates. | Source → |
| Giant Rectal Tumor Responds to Imatinib Mesylate Chemotherapy | Colorectal Cancer | observational | The tumor diameter reduction rate at 1, 3, and 5 months after treatment was 28%, 32%, and 40%. | Source → |
| Reducing Large Rectal Tumors with Imatinib Therapy | Colorectal Cancer | observational | The tumor size was reduced by 40% after 28 weeks of administering neoadjuvant therapy. | Source → |
| Vitamin K2 May Help Protect Leukemia Cells from COVID-19 Damage | Leukemia | lab-study | — | Source → |
| Combining Natural Compounds with Imatinib May Help Treat Leukemia | Leukemia | lab-study | — | Source → |
| Monitoring Imatinib's Active Metabolite May Not Be Necessary | Leukemia | lab-study | — | Source → |
| Guaranteed Access to Imatinib Improves Survival in Chronic Myeloid Leukemia Patients | Leukemia | observational | The 20-year survival probability was 76% for patients with guaranteed access to imatinib, compared to 61% for those without access. | Source → |
| Nilotinib and Imatinib Compared in Chronic Myeloid Leukemia Treatment | Leukemia | observational | Nilotinib-treated patients achieved complete cytogenetic response and major molecular response more rapidly than imatinib-treated patients. | Source → |
| Combining Natural Compounds with Imatinib May Improve Leukemia Treatment | Leukemia | review | — | Source → |
| New Method for Measuring Cancer Drug Concentration in Blood | Leukemia | lab-study | — | Source → |
| Rare Skin Reaction Linked to Cancer Drug | Leukemia | review | — | Source → |
| BCR::ABL1 Inhibitors Affect Blood Vessel Growth Differently | Leukemia | lab-study | — | Source → |
| New Cancer Treatment Shows Promise in Lab and Clinical Trials | Leukemia | preclinical | Flumatinib demonstrated better efficacy than imatinib on CML in clinical trials and in real world studies. | Source → |
| Imatinib May Cause Fluid Retention in Some Patients | Leukemia | observational | — | Source → |
| Genetic Variations Affect Imatinib Concentration in CML Patients | Leukemia | lab-study | Carriers of the CYP3A5-rs776746 G allele exhibited higher rates of complete cytogenetic response (CCyR) and major molecular response (MMR). | Source → |
| New Sensor Detects Cancer Drug in Blood Samples | Leukemia | lab-study | A comprehensive linear response over IMB concentrations from 5 × 10^(-9) mol/L to 8 × 10^(-9) mol/L with a low detection limit of 9.3 × 10^(-9) mol/L was achieved. | Source → |
| New Study Compares Treatments for a Specific Type of Leukaemia | Leukemia | phase-3 | — | Source → |
| New Genes and Pathways Identified in Leukemia Treatment | Leukemia | lab-study | — | Source → |
| Predicting Imatinib Response in Chronic Myeloid Leukemia | Leukemia | lab-study | — | Source → |
| Ponatinib vs Imatinib for Leukemia Treatment: Cost Comparison | Leukemia | phase-3 | Ponatinib offered an approximate gain of 3 months of life and 6 months of quality-adjusted life. | Source → |
This information is provided for general education only and is not medical advice. Always consult a qualified healthcare professional before making treatment decisions.