title: Adjuvant imatinib treatment after R0 resection for patients with high-risk gastrointestinal stromal tumors: a median follow-up of 44 months.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The optimal duration of Imatinib adjuvant treatment for patients with high-risk gastrointestinal stromal tumors (GISTs) is uncertain.
  
  
  METHODS
  A total of 90 patients with high-risk GISTs after curative resection were recruited into this non-randomized case-control study, including 35 having Imatinib adjuvant therapy and 55 having follow-up alone. The recurrence-free survival (RFS) was compared.
  
  
  RESULTS
  After a median follow-up of 44.0 months, a significantly reduced recurrence rate was observed in the treatment group than the control group (17.1% vs. 78.2%, P = 0.000). One-year, 2-year, and 3-year RFS rates were 100% vs. 70.9%, 88.0% vs. 37.8%, and 88.0% vs. 27.5%, respectively; with a significant advantage for Imatinib adjuvant therapy versus the surgery only (P = 0.000, HR 0.122, 95% CI 0.041-0.363). Continuation Imatinib treatment further improved RFS by comparison with the interruption treatment (both 2-year and 3-year RFS were 95.8% vs. 63.6%, P = 0.011, HR 0.103, 95% CI 0.012-0.883). There were no serious adverse events in the adjuvant therapy group.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Imatinib Adjuvant therapy could significantly prolong the RFS of patients with high-risk GISTs. Extended Imatinib adjuvant treatment strategy may further reduce the risk of relapse with a low drug resistance rate and toxicity profile.
authors.affiliation: Department of General Surgery, Affiliated Union Hospital, Fujian Medical University, Fuzhou, People's Republic of China.
authors.forename: Wei-Zhong
authors.initials: WZ
authors.lastname: Jiang
authors.forename: Guo-Xian
authors.initials: GX
authors.lastname: Guan
authors.forename: Hui-Shan
authors.initials: HS
authors.lastname: Lu
authors.forename: Ying-Hong
authors.initials: YH
authors.lastname: Yang
authors.forename: De-Yong
authors.initials: DY
authors.lastname: Kang
authors.forename: He-Guang
authors.initials: HG
authors.lastname: Huang
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001549:Benzamides; D017024:Chemotherapy, Adjuvant; D018572:Disease-Free Survival; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D005770:Gastrointestinal Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000601:surgery; D046152:Gastrointestinal Stromal Tumors / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000601:surgery; D006801:Humans; D000068877:Imatinib Mesylate; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010879:Piperazines / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D011743:Pyrimidines / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D016019:Survival Analysis
chemical_list: D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; D001549:Benzamides; D010879:Piperazines; D011743:Pyrimidines; D000068877:Imatinib Mesylate