Background and objectives: This multicenter study, which was conducted in northern Kanto, Japan, aimed to assess the efficacy of imatinib mesylate against advanced or recurrent gastrointestinal stromal tumors (GIST).
Methods: The clinicopathological data of 234 GIST patients who were treated at one of the 11 participating hospitals from 2001-2011 were retrospectively reviewed. Imatinib was administered as a first-line therapy in cases involving unresectable disease or postoperative recurrence (41 cases). The median follow-up period was 4.0 years.
Results: After a median follow-up period of 4.0 years, the patients treated with imatinib (n = 41) exhibited 1-, 3-, and 5-year overall survival (OS) rates of 92.3%, 74.9%, and 53.8%, respectively. In univariate and multivariate analyses, imatinib dose reduction and achieving a complete or partial response were found to be associated with increased OS.
Conclusions: Long-term imatinib treatment is recommended for patients with non-progressive disease. If patients experience significant toxicities, temporary dose reduction might be useful.
Keywords: GIST; imatinib; recurrence.
© 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.