What is a primary treatment for Chronic Myeloid Leukemia (CML)?

Gleevec (Imatinib) is the primary treatment for Chronic Myeloid Leukemia (CML) due to its targeted therapy approach against the specific genetic abnormality associated with this type of leukemia. CML is characterized by the presence of the Philadelphia chromosome, which leads to the formation of a fusion protein, BCR-ABL, that promotes the proliferation of myeloid cells. Imatinib inhibits the tyrosine kinase activity of this fusion protein, effectively controlling the malignancy.

The effectiveness of Imatinib has been well established in clinical studies, showing significant improvements in disease-free survival and overall response rates among patients with CML. This makes it a cornerstone of treatment.

Other options listed do not target the specific pathology of CML. For instance, Rituximab is primarily used for B-cell malignancies and is not effective against the BCR-ABL fusion protein. Vincristine and Cyclophosphamide are traditional chemotherapeutic agents that are more broadly utilized for various types of cancers but do not provide the targeted mechanism that is crucial for effectively treating CML. Therefore, Imatinib is recognized as the crucial therapeutic agent for managing this condition.