What is the name of the small molecule inhibitor used for gastrointestinal stromal tumors and chronic myelogenous leukemia?

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Multiple Choice

What is the name of the small molecule inhibitor used for gastrointestinal stromal tumors and chronic myelogenous leukemia?

Targeted therapy in these cancers often relies on small molecule inhibitors that block specific kinases driving tumor growth. Imatinib, marketed as Gleevec, is a classic example. It binds to the ATP-binding site of several tyrosine kinases that are constitutively active in these diseases—BCR-ABL in chronic myeloid leukemia and c-KIT (and PDGFR) in gastrointestinal stromal tumors. By inhibiting this kinase activity, it disrupts the signaling pathways that promote cell proliferation and survival, effectively slowing or stopping disease progression and often leading to tumor responses. That’s why the name of the inhibitor used for both GIST and CML is Gleevec. For contrast, the other options are not cancer drugs: glycogen is a carbohydrate, Gardasil is a vaccine, and glucosamine is a supplement.

Targeted therapy in these cancers often relies on small molecule inhibitors that block specific kinases driving tumor growth. Imatinib, marketed as Gleevec, is a classic example. It binds to the ATP-binding site of several tyrosine kinases that are constitutively active in these diseases—BCR-ABL in chronic myeloid leukemia and c-KIT (and PDGFR) in gastrointestinal stromal tumors. By inhibiting this kinase activity, it disrupts the signaling pathways that promote cell proliferation and survival, effectively slowing or stopping disease progression and often leading to tumor responses. That’s why the name of the inhibitor used for both GIST and CML is Gleevec. For contrast, the other options are not cancer drugs: glycogen is a carbohydrate, Gardasil is a vaccine, and glucosamine is a supplement.

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