title: Two cases of complete response after imatinib mesylate treatment of advanced GIST.
abstract: 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.
authors.affiliation: Second Department of Internal Medicine-Propaedeutic, University General Hospital, Attikon University of Athens, 1 Rimini street, Haidari 12462, Athens, Greece. georgexoinis@yahoo.gr
authors.forename: George
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Papaxoinis
authors.forename: Maria
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Nikolaou
authors.forename: Evangelos
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Lianos
authors.forename: Asimina
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Gaglia
authors.forename: Theofanis
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Economopoulos
authors.forename: Dimitrios
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Pectasides
mesh_terms: 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*
chemical_list: D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; D001549:Benzamides; D010879:Piperazines; D011743:Pyrimidines; D000068877:Imatinib Mesylate