Leukemia Cancer Drugs
May Cause Heart Failure - Gleevec and Other Tyrosine Kinase Inhibitors
Toxic and May Cause Problems
July 23rd 2006
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Gleevec |
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New drugs used to treat leukemia, including Gleevec, may cause serious
heart damage, according to U.S. researchers. The researchers say that
people taking the medication should continue to take it, but should also
be closely monitored for heart damage.
The researchers from Jefferson Medical College in Philadelphia, Tufts
University School of Medicine in Boston, University of Texas released
the caution of Sunday, after they found evidence that treatment caused
heart failure in 10 patients. They say that people taking other drugs
in the same class, called tyrosine kinase inhibitors, may also be at
risk for heart damage.
The drugs have been very successful in treating chronic myelogenous
leukemia or CML, in most patients. They have found that 80 to 90 percent
of the patients taking the drug were cancer free for at least five
years. The drugs have also been successful in treating a rare form of
stomach cancer called gastrointestinal stromal tumors or GIST.
Thomas Force, who led the investigation, said “"Gleevec is a wonderful
drug and patients with these diseases need to be on it. We're trying to
call attention to the fact that Gleevec and other similar drugs coming
along could have significant side effects on the heart and clinicians
need to be aware of this. It's a potential problem because the number of
targeted agents is growing rapidly."
The researchers tested the drug in lab dishes and found that it appears
to be toxic to heart cells. Also, mice treated with Gleevec developed
left ventricular dysfunction. This is a key symptom for heart failure.
Novartis, the maker of Gleevec said the cases of heart failure were
rare.
Force said “While the cancer is treated effectively, there will be some
percentage of patients who could experience significant left ventricular
dysfunction and even heart failure from this.” Heart failure will kill
half of the patients within 5 years.
Novartis said that patients can be successfully treated with two drugs
that can help treat the heart failure. These drugs, called ACE
inhibitors and carvedilol, can be used as a treatment, but the prognosis
for heart failure remains poor.
Marsha Quinn
Writer
Books on Cancer
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