A large review of studies looked at how genes affect the drug imatinib in people with chronic myeloid leukemia. The research focused on two genes, ABCB1 and ABCG2, which help move drugs through the body. The review included over 1,000 patients with different genetic types.
The main finding was that people with specific gene variants had much higher levels of imatinib in their blood. For example, one variant in the ABCB1 gene led to drug levels about 300 units higher than in people without the variant. Another variant in the ABCG2 gene also raised drug levels.
Higher drug levels might mean the treatment works better, but they could also increase the chance of side effects. The study suggests that testing for these gene variants could help doctors choose the right imatinib dose for each patient. This approach is called pharmacogenetic screening.
The review did not look at how these gene changes affect patient survival or side effects. More research is needed to see if adjusting doses based on genes improves long-term outcomes. Still, the results support using genetic information to guide imatinib therapy.
