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Imatinib and the Treatment of Fibrosis: Recent Trials and Tribulations

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Abstract

Imatinib mesylate has become a therapy of interest for the treatment of systemic sclerosis because of its ability to inhibit c-Abl and platelet-derived growth factor receptor, tyrosine kinases involved in profibrotic pathways. Preclinical data using in vitro and murine models of fibrosis have demonstrated the antifibrotic properties of imatinib. Imatinib is currently used widely in the treatment of chronic myelogenous leukemia, gastrointestinal stromal tumors, and other conditions, and a large amount of information is available regarding the safety of the medication in these patient populations. Whether imatinib will be tolerable or effective in the treatment of systemic sclerosis is the subject of several investigations. The aim of this review is to summarize this body of research to date.

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Papers of particular interest, published recently, have been highlighted as: • Of importance •• Of major importance

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Acknowledgments

Dr. Gordon is funded by a new investigator grant from the Scleroderma Foundation and by grant no. UL1RR024996 from the Clinical and Translational Science Center at Weill Cornell Medical Center.

Dr. Spiera’s work has been funded by the Rudolph Rupert Scleroderma Program.

Disclosure

Dr. Gordon has received grant support from Novartis.

Dr. Spiera is supported by an investigator-initiated grant from Novartis and has received additional grant funding from Bristol-Myers Squibb and United Therapeutics Corp.

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  1. Department of Rheumatology, Hospital for Special Surgery, 535 East 70th Street, New York, NY, 10021, USA

    Jessica Gordon & Robert Spiera

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  1. Jessica Gordon
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Correspondence to Robert Spiera.

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Gordon, J., Spiera, R. Imatinib and the Treatment of Fibrosis: Recent Trials and Tribulations. Curr Rheumatol Rep 13, 51–58 (2011). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11926-010-0146-6

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