Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jun 22, 2026
04:36
Comet Assay to Quantify DNA Damage in FLT3 Mutant-expressing 32D Cells after Exposure to Type I and Type II FLT3 Inhibitors
Published on: October 17, 2025
Imatinib: a designer drug, another cutaneous complication
1Department of Haematology, Heatherwood and Wexham Park NHS Foundation Trust, Wexham Park Hospital, Slough, UK.
Clinical and Experimental Dermatology
|June 3, 2009
Summary
Imatinib treatment for chronic myeloid leukaemia can worsen existing psoriasis and cause new nail problems. Patients with psoriasis should be monitored for these potential side effects during imatinib therapy.
Area of Science:
- Dermatology
- Oncology
- Pharmacology
Background:
- Chronic myeloid leukaemia (CML) is a myeloproliferative neoplasm.
- Imatinib is a tyrosine kinase inhibitor commonly used to treat CML.
- Psoriasis is a chronic autoimmune skin condition.
Observation:
- A 55-year-old male patient with a history of mild psoriasis was initiated on imatinib for CML.
- The patient developed new-onset nail dystrophy.
- The patient experienced an exacerbation of his pre-existing psoriasis.
Findings:
- Imatinib therapy was associated with both the development of nail dystrophy and the worsening of psoriasis.
- These dermatological side effects occurred concurrently in the patient undergoing imatinib treatment.
Implications:
- While not an absolute contraindication, imatinib may trigger or exacerbate psoriasis and nail changes.
- Clinicians should be aware of the potential for imatinib to induce or worsen psoriasis and nail dystrophy.
- Monitoring for dermatological adverse events is crucial in CML patients treated with imatinib.
Related Concept Videos
02:57Targeted Cancer Therapies
The targeted cancer therapies, also known as “molecular targeted therapies,” take advantage of the molecular and genetic differences between the cancer cells and the normal cells. It needs a thorough understanding of the cancer cells to develop drugs that can target specific molecular aspects that drive the growth, progression, and spread of cancer cells without affecting the growth and survival of other normal cells in the body.
There are several types of targeted therapies against specific...
There are several types of targeted therapies against specific...
02:50Combination Therapies and Personalized Medicine
Combining two or more treatment methods increases the life span of cancer patients while reducing damage to vital organs or tissue from the overuse of a single treatment. Combination therapy also targets different cancer-inducing pathways, thus reducing the chances of developing resistance to treatment.
The combination of the drug acetazolamide and sulforaphane is a good example of combination therapy to treat cancer. The cells in the interior of a large tumor often die due to the hypoxic and...
The combination of the drug acetazolamide and sulforaphane is a good example of combination therapy to treat cancer. The cells in the interior of a large tumor often die due to the hypoxic and...
01:10Drugs that Destabilize Microtubules
Microtubules are dynamic structures and can be regulated by microtubule targeting agents (MTAs). Microtubule destabilizing drugs are a class of MTAs that destabilize and prevent microtubules' polymerization. Both natural and synthetic chemicals can be found under this class of drugs. Vincristine and vinblastine, two vinca alkaloids, and colchicine were among the first to be discovered. These drugs can affect cells in various ways, either by inducing a change in cell morphology, preventing...
02:38Mitogens and the Cell Cycle
Mitogens and their receptors play a crucial role in controlling the progression of the cell cycle. However, the loss of mitogenic control over cell division leads to tumor formation. Therefore, mitogens and mitogen receptors play an important role in cancer research. For instance, the epidermal growth factor (EGF) - a type of mitogen and its transmembrane receptor (EGFR), decides the fate of the cell's proliferation. When EGF binds to EGFR, a member of the ErbB family of tyrosine kinase...
01:26Treatment for Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension: Receptor Tyrosine Kinase Inhibitors and Calcium Channel Blockers
Receptor tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs) and calcium channel blockers (CCBs) are two critical categories of drugs employed in the treatment of pulmonary artery hypertension (PAH). PAH is a disease that causes high blood pressure in the pulmonary arteries, resulting in chest pain, fatigue, and shortness of breath.
TKIs, such as imatinib (Gleevec), are particularly effective in tackling the growth and mitogenic factors that become upregulated in PAH patients. These factors contribute to the...
TKIs, such as imatinib (Gleevec), are particularly effective in tackling the growth and mitogenic factors that become upregulated in PAH patients. These factors contribute to the...
01:11Pharmacogenetics of Drug Targets: β₂-Adrenergic Receptors, Apo E, Thymidylate Synthase
Genetic polymorphisms in drug targets have emerged as critical determinants of interindividual variability in drug response and toxicity. Pharmacogenomic investigations increasingly focus on identifying these variations to personalize and optimize therapeutic interventions. A drug target may be a receptor, enzyme, or signaling protein involved in pharmacologic responses or disease-related pathways. While early pharmacogenetic studies focused primarily on drug metabolism, current research...