[Effect of imatinib treatment of gastrointestinal stromal tumors].
BACKGROUND
Advanced malignant gastrointestinal stromal tumours are practically resistant to further radio- or chemotherapy. These tumours are characterized by the presence of C-KIT (a transmembrane tyrosin kinase) mutation which can be specified by CD117 expression. Imatinib (2-fenilaminopirimidine) is a selective inhibitor of the mutated C-KIT.


OBJECTIVE
The purpose of our study was to determine the potential antitumour effect of imatinib in patients with gastrointestinal stroma tumour patients.


METHODS
An open, non-randomized trial was performed involving 38 patients each of which had received/metastatic disease associated with CD117 positivity. Consecutively daily doses of 400-600 mg imatinib was administered orally to the patients. The evaluation was carried out on 37 patients in a form of an interim analysis.


RESULTS
After a 3-18 months observation period 1 complete, 19 partial remissions and 10 static diseases could be registered (78%), in association of only grade 1-2 toxicity.


CONCLUSIONS
The imatinib treatment improved the quality of life of the patients with gastrointestinal stroma tumour and their life expectancy became considerably prolonged. Further follow-up of the patients as well as design of a prospective, randomized trial on a larger patient material is urgently needed.
Eckhardt
Sándor
S
Országos Onkológiai Intézet, B Belgyógyászati Osztály, Budapest. eckhardt@oncol.hu
Pápai
Zsuzsanna
Z
Bodoky
György
G
Horti
József
J
Tamás
Karin
K
Nagy
Tünde
T
Orosz
Zsolt
Z
Sápi
Zoltán
Z
Gödény
Mária
M
Jakab
Klára
K
Esik
Olga
O
Trón
Lajos
L
Besznyák
István
I
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001549:Benzamides; D004334:Drug Administration Schedule; D004791:Enzyme Inhibitors / Q000627:therapeutic use; D005260:Female; D005770:Gastrointestinal Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000473:pathology*; D006801:Humans; D000068877:Imatinib Mesylate; D008113:Liver Neoplasms / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000556:secondary; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010879:Piperazines / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D011743:Pyrimidines / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D012074:Remission Induction; D017154:Stromal Cells; D016019:Survival Analysis; D014055:Tomography, Emission-Computed; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed; D016896:Treatment Outcome
D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; D001549:Benzamides; D004791:Enzyme Inhibitors; D010879:Piperazines; D011743:Pyrimidines; D000068877:Imatinib Mesylate