title: Imatinib mesilate for the treatment of gastrointestinal stromal tumour.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The molecular hallmark of gastrointestinal stromal tumours (GISTs), the mutation of the KIT gene, was discovered 10 years ago. GISTs have since been recognized as separate pathological entities among sarcomas, and have become a model for targeted treatment of solid tumours. Imatinib mesilate, which was approved in 2002 for the treatment of patients with advanced GIST, has dramatically changed the course of the disease.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  This article will focus on the development of imatinib mesilate in the treatment of patients with GIST.
  
  
  METHODS
  A Pubmed search was performed using the keywords 'imatinib', 'gastrointestinal stromal', 'GIST', 'KIT' and 'PDGFR'. Websites of the American Society of Clinical Oncology and the European Society of Medical Oncology were searched for data reported in abstract form at recent symposiums. Personal communications from opinion leaders were sought for additional information that might be relevant.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Imatinib has changed the clinical course of patients with advanced GISTs and further development in the adjuvant setting as well as prospective assessment of predictive factors are the current focus of ongoing research.
authors.affiliation: Unité de Jour d'Oncologie Médicale Multidisciplinaire, Pavillon E, Hôpital Edouard Herriot, 5 place d'Arsonval, 69003, Lyon, France.
authors.forename: Philippe A
authors.initials: PA
authors.lastname: Cassier
authors.forename: Armelle
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Dufresne
authors.forename: Samia
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Arifi
authors.forename: Hiba
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: El Sayadi
authors.forename: Intidar
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Labidi
authors.forename: Isabelle
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Ray-Coquard
authors.forename: Séverine
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Tabone
authors.forename: Pierre
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Méeus
authors.forename: Dominique
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Ranchère
authors.forename: Marie-Pierre
authors.initials: MP
authors.lastname: Sunyach
authors.forename: Anne-Valérie
authors.initials: AV
authors.lastname: Decouvelaere
authors.forename: Laurent
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Alberti
authors.forename: Jean-Yves
authors.initials: JY
authors.lastname: Blay
mesh_terms: D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001549:Benzamides; D018849:Controlled Clinical Trials as Topic; D016503:Drug Delivery Systems; D019008:Drug Resistance, Neoplasm; D046152:Gastrointestinal Stromal Tumors / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000503:physiopathology; D006801:Humans; D000068877:Imatinib Mesylate; D009154:Mutation; D010879:Piperazines / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D019009:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-kit; D011743:Pyrimidines / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*
chemical_list: D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; D001549:Benzamides; D010879:Piperazines; D011743:Pyrimidines; D000068877:Imatinib Mesylate; D019009:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-kit