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Which drug is effective in treating all phases of CML?
Hydroxyurea
Gleevec
Cytarabine
Etoposide
The correct answer is: Gleevec
The effectiveness of Gleevec (Imatinib) in treating all phases of chronic myeloid leukemia (CML) stems from its targeted action as a tyrosine kinase inhibitor. Gleevec specifically targets the BCR-ABL fusion protein that is a result of the Philadelphia chromosome mutation commonly associated with CML. By inhibiting this protein, Gleevec directly disrupts the proliferation of leukemic cells at multiple stages of the disease, including the chronic, accelerated, and blast phases. In addition to its therapeutic efficacy across all phases, Gleevec has demonstrated the ability to induce and maintain remission for many patients, significantly improving their overall survival rates. This targeted approach is a key aspect of modern oncology, emphasizing the importance of tailored therapies based on specific genetic markers or mutations present within cancer cells. Other medications traditionally used in CML treatment, such as hydroxyurea, cytarabine, and etoposide, may serve roles in disease management but are not specifically designed to target the underlying molecular abnormality present in CML. These drugs may only provide palliative treatment or may be effective in particular settings or phases but do not encompass the broad-spectrum efficacy that Gleevec does in addressing all stages of this leukemia.