Imatinib mesylate (STI571, Gleevec) is a selective inhibitor of the tyrosine kinases BCR-ABL, c-KIT and PDGF-R and has been shown to be highly active in chronic myeloid leukemia (CML) and has significant antitumor efficacy against gastrointestinal stroma tumors (GIST). This evidence concerns the gene PDGFRB and chronic myelogenous leukemia, BCR-ABL1 positive.