Imatinib Mesylate (Gleevec) as Protein-tyrosine Kinase Inhibitor Elicits Smooth Muscle Relaxation in Isolated Human Prostatic Tissue

Imatinib induced prostatic smooth muscle relaxation in vitro. This effect was suppressed by l-NAME and ODQ, showing a dependence on the nitric oxide-cyclic guanosine monophosphate pathway and modulated by the KATP and BKCa2+ K+ channels. Our findings suggest that imatinib can augment relaxation of human prostatic tissues by way of a novel ligand-protein tyrosine kinase signaling pathway.