Imatinib (also called Gleevec, STI571), a Bcr-Abl tyrosine kinase inhibitor developed by Novartis, has been the first-line treatment for patients with chronic myelogenous leukemia (CML) since 2001. [1] Most newly diagnosed CML patients with chronic phase disease treated with Imatinib achieve durable response; however, relapses have been observed in most patients with more advanced disease. Mutations in the Bcr-Abl gene are the most common cause ...
