Two cases of complete response after imatinib mesylate treatment of advanced GIST.
BACKGROUND
Imatinib mesylate has undoubted efficacy in the treatment of advanced gastrointestinal stromal tumors (GISTs), but complete responses have only been reported rarely.


METHODS
A 47-year-old man with liver metastasis from GIST achieved a complete response after 7 months of treatment with imatinib and a 47-year old woman with local relapse of GIST on the stomach after gastrectomy, showed complete remission, 9 months after treatment with imatinib.


CONCLUSIONS
Although the response rate is high in patients with advanced GIST treated with imatinib mesylate, complete responses remain rare. Several issues concerning its optimal administration need to be clarified, in order to improve its efficacy.
Papaxoinis
George
G
Second Department of Internal Medicine-Propaedeutic, University General Hospital, Attikon University of Athens, 1 Rimini street, Haidari 12462, Athens, Greece. georgexoinis@yahoo.gr
Nikolaou
Maria
M
Lianos
Evangelos
E
Gaglia
Asimina
A
Economopoulos
Theofanis
T
Pectasides
Dimitrios
D
D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001549:Benzamides; D005260:Female; D046152:Gastrointestinal Stromal Tumors / Q000188:drug therapy*; D006801:Humans; D000068877:Imatinib Mesylate; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010879:Piperazines / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D011743:Pyrimidines / Q000627:therapeutic use*
D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; D001549:Benzamides; D010879:Piperazines; D011743:Pyrimidines; D000068877:Imatinib Mesylate