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Journal of the National Cancer Institute Advance Access published online on June 24, 2008
JNCI Journal of the National Cancer Institute, doi:10.1093/jnci/djn230
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© Oxford University Press 2008.

NEWS

Disease Progression in Some Cancers May Be Due to Low Blood Levels of Targeted Therapies

Rabiya S. Tuma

The first 150 words of the full text of this article appear below.

Oncologists have traditionally treated patients with drugs that are delivered intravenously and intermittently. By contrast, imatinib and many other molecularly targeted agents are taken as a pill every day.

That difference means that oncologists are facing a whole new range of challenges. Not only does patient adherence to a drug regimen come into play, but food, digestion, antacids, and drug interactions can all affect how much of a drug is absorbed. Results from several studies suggest that oncologists may improve clinical outcomes in some patients by monitoring the level of the drug in their blood.

Imatinib is broadly effective in patients with chronic myelogenous leukemia (CML) and in gastrointestinal stromal tumors (GISTs). However, data from several studies suggest that patients who have low blood concentrations of the drug are more likely to have disease progression than patients who maintain a higher concentration between doses. The low levels between doses may . . . [Full Text of this Article]

Imatinib Troughs in CML

Troughs May Affect GIST Outcomes

Behavior May Play Key Role


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