[Clinical studies with imatinib in 2004]

The successful period of targeted molecular therapy of malignancies started with the beneficial clinical application of trastuzumab and imatinib. Imatinib is a targeted molecule capable to inhibit tyrosine kinase active in the production of abl-bcr protein responsible for the translocation of 9 and 22 chromosome in chronic myeloid leukemia. Simultaneously the drug may be active against C-kit PDGFRalpha and beta, COL 1a1 and FIPI-LI gene mutations as well. Consequently, imatinib exerts a therapeutic effect upon chronic myeloid leukemia, gastrointestinal stroma tumor, dermatofibrosarcoma protuberans and hypereosinophilic syndroma. Besides, several studies are ongoing in other solid tumours characterized by those mutations, which might be blocked through imatinib treatment. Studies are in progress determining the place of imatinib in the "complex therapy". Resistance developed against the drug may be overcome by new molecules, such as SU 11248 or everolimus. It can be stated that imatinib--a drug which is applied orally and has a highly tolerable toxicity profile--signifies a new perspective for a successful targeted molecular therapy.