title: Resection combined with imatinib therapy for liver metastases of gastrointestinal stromal tumors.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate the effectiveness of resecting liver metastases of gastrointestinal stromal tumors (GISTs), when performed in conjunction with imatinib treatment.
  
  
  METHODS
  Forty-one patients with pathologically diagnosed GIST and liver metastases were randomly assigned to an operation group (neoadjuvant therapy + resection + adjuvant therapy with imatinib) or a nonoperation group (imatinib alone). Patients were monitored for up to 36 months, and survival was analyzed.
  
  
  RESULTS
  We monitored 39 patients throughout the 36-month follow-up period, recording 1- and 3-year survival rates of 100% and 89.5% in the operation group and 85% and 60% in the nonoperation group, respectively. There was a significant difference in overall survival between the operation and nonoperation groups (P = 0.03). Furthermore, resection improved the survival of patients who responded poorly to 6 months of preoperative imatinib treatment, compared with that of their counterparts in the nonoperation group (P = 0.04).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  These findings suggest that surgical intervention in combination with imatinib treatment is more effective than imatinib alone against GIST liver metastases, with minimal complications and side effects.
authors.affiliation: Department of Gastrointestinal Surgery, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610041, PR China.
authors.forename: Lin
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Xia
authors.forename: Ming-Ming
authors.initials: MM
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.forename: Lin
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Ji
authors.forename: Xin
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: Xiao-Ting
authors.initials: XT
authors.lastname: Wu
mesh_terms: D000284:Administration, Oral; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001549:Benzamides; D017024:Chemotherapy, Adjuvant; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D046152:Gastrointestinal Stromal Tumors / Q000556:secondary / Q000628:therapy*; D006498:Hepatectomy / Q000379:methods*; D006801:Humans; D000068877:Imatinib Mesylate; D008113:Liver Neoplasms / Q000556:secondary / Q000628:therapy*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010879:Piperazines / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D011505:Protein-Tyrosine Kinases / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors; D011743:Pyrimidines / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; D001549:Benzamides; D010879:Piperazines; D011743:Pyrimidines; D000068877:Imatinib Mesylate; D011505:Protein-Tyrosine Kinases