Pathological complete response in advanced gastrointestinal stromal tumor after imatinib therapy

Intern Med. 2005 Nov;44(11):1163-8. doi: 10.2169/internalmedicine.44.1163.

Abstract

Gastrointestinal stromal tumor (GIST) is a rare neoplasm exhibiting, in most cases, mutations of c-kit. Recently it has been demonstrated that a majority of GIST patients with c-kit mutations respond to therapy with imatinib, a c-kit tyrosine kinase inhibitor. Although the response rate in patients treated with imatinib in prospective clinical studies is above 50%, complete response is rare, and the data on the use of imatinib as neoaduvant therapy facilitating radical surgery is still scanty. Here, we report on a patient with metastatic gastric GIST who underwent surgery after 6 months of imatinib therapy. No tumor cells were detected on pathological examination of resection specimen. This case report indicates that a pathological complete response could be achieved with imatinib therapy in patients with GIST, but a wider experience and longer follow-up is necessary to appreciate the prognostic significance of pathological complete response in GIST.

Publication types

  • Case Reports
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Antineoplastic Agents / therapeutic use*
  • Benzamides
  • Follow-Up Studies
  • Gastrectomy
  • Gastrointestinal Stromal Tumors / drug therapy*
  • Gastrointestinal Stromal Tumors / pathology
  • Gastrointestinal Stromal Tumors / surgery
  • Humans
  • Imatinib Mesylate
  • Liver Neoplasms / diagnostic imaging
  • Liver Neoplasms / pathology
  • Liver Neoplasms / secondary
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Piperazines / therapeutic use*
  • Protein-Tyrosine Kinases / antagonists & inhibitors*
  • Pyrimidines / therapeutic use*
  • Stomach / pathology*
  • Tomography, X-Ray Computed

Substances

  • Antineoplastic Agents
  • Benzamides
  • Piperazines
  • Pyrimidines
  • Imatinib Mesylate
  • Protein-Tyrosine Kinases