Complete response in a melanoma patient treated with imatinib.
BACKGROUND
Imatinib therapy has been successful in gastrointestinal stromal tumours containing mutation of the KIT gene. However, there are few reported cases of successful imatinib therapy in patients with melanoma containing KIT gene mutation or c-kit protein expression.


RESULTS
A 52-year-old man developed metastatic melanoma from a primary melanoma in the left side of the nasopharynx. The tumour was positive for c-kit protein, and there was a KIT mutation in exon 11. He was treated with imatinib. A follow-up scan one year later showed a complete response. Treatment targeting the biological characteristics of melanoma proved successful in this patient.
Medical School, University of Dundee, Dundee, Scotland, UK.
M C
MC
Brown
R J
RJ
Casasola
D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001549:Benzamides; D005091:Exons / Q000235:genetics; D015870:Gene Expression; D006801:Humans; D000068877:Imatinib Mesylate; D008297:Male; D008545:Melanoma / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000235:genetics / Q000556:secondary*; D008875:Middle Aged; D009154:Mutation / Q000235:genetics; D009303:Nasopharyngeal Neoplasms / Q000235:genetics / Q000473:pathology* / Q000532:radiotherapy; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D010879:Piperazines / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D019009:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-kit / Q000235:genetics*; D011743:Pyrimidines / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D012074:Remission Induction; D016896:Treatment Outcome
D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; D001549:Benzamides; D010879:Piperazines; D011743:Pyrimidines; D000068877:Imatinib Mesylate; D019009:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-kit