Imatinib
Gleevec is the brand-name version of imatinib and the only product on this shelf, a 400 mg tablet used to treat Chronic Myeloid Leukaemia and Gastrointestinal Stromal Tumours.
Key points
- Imatinib is a kinase inhibitor that blocks the BCR-ABL protein in leukaemia cells and c-kit in stromal tumours, slowing or stopping their growth.
- Do not become pregnant while taking imatinib and for 14 days after the final dose; the medicine can harm a developing baby.
- Avoid grapefruit and grapefruit juice during treatment, as they can raise imatinib levels in the blood.
How does Imatinib work?
Imatinib blocks specific enzymes called tyrosine kinases, which act as growth signals inside cells. In chronic myeloid leukaemia, it targets the BCR-ABL protein, a faulty signal that keeps white blood cells dividing without control. In gastrointestinal stromal tumours, it inhibits c-kit, a receptor that drives abnormal growth in the stomach and intestinal wall. By sitting in the enzyme’s active site, imatinib switches off the signal and triggers the cell’s own death programme. It sits within the Oncology Support range as a targeted therapy.