Gayle Fiser Genetics: Gleevec Very Interesting Homework Assignment
Read the two articles: “Gleevec: the breakthrough in cancer” and “The triumph of Dr. Druker.” Answer the following questions:
1) What is CML? The following website was used for this question and pictures. I wanted to keep everything about this in one document for later use with my students.
Chronic Myelogenous Leukemia (CML) is a rare leukemia found in adults. The stem cells of the bone marrow make too many granulocytes. The granulocytes are not healthy white blood cells. They leave less room for red blood cells and platelets. The Philadelphia chromosome is involved in most CML.
The gene responsible for this CML is this new bcr-abl fusion that happened when the portion of chromosome 9 translocated with the portion of chromosome 22. This gene is responsible for the production of a tyrosine kinase protein that triggers cells to divide, making them active too long and proliferation occurs.
2) What is the genetic basis of CML and is this a tumor suppressor or proto-oncogene?CML is the result of a proto-oncogene becoming an oncogene. The genetic basis is included in question number one.
3) How does Gleevec work? Gleevec works as a competitive inhibitor blocking the
active site where ATP is broken down into ADP and P, phoshorylating the tyrosine kinase receptor, which initiates the cell division.
4) What has happened with Gleevec since its first use? It was called “The magic bullet” for a while with close to 100% of the patients responding. However, after years of using Gleevec, patients become resistant to the Gleevec. The mechanism for this drug has paved the way for other drugs that can be used after resistance has occurred.
5) What role did Dr. Druker play in bringing Gleevec to market? Dr. Druker stuck with his idea that this would work and bypassed the drug company in which he had been turned down after some unfavorable side effects in test animals. Dr. Druker went around them and straight to the FDA for approval for a trial. After successful trials, there was a petition for its manufacture.