Complete remission of recurrent gastrointestinal stromal tumors after treatment with imatinib: report of a case

Surg Today. 2006;36(8):727-32. doi: 10.1007/s00595-006-3224-7.

Abstract

A 49-year-old man underwent partial resection of the jejunum for an abdominal tumor, which was histologically confirmed to be a gastrointestinal stromal tumor (GIST). Immunohistochemistry revealed that the tumor cells were positive for c-kit, p52, and MIB-1. He underwent resection of a total of 83 recurrent tumors over the next 36 months. A computed tomography (CT) scan done a few months later showed multiple tumor recurrences. The patient was started on imatinib mesylate 400 mg/day, and 3 months later, a CT image showed an increase in tumor size but a decrease in tumor density. Subsequent CT scans showed a marked decrease in tumor size 3 months later and no evidence of tumor recurrence 9 and 12 months after the commencement of imatinib treatment. The patient remains in complete remission 31 months after the start of treatment.

Publication types

  • Case Reports
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Antineoplastic Agents / therapeutic use*
  • Benzamides
  • Gastrointestinal Stromal Tumors / diagnostic imaging
  • Gastrointestinal Stromal Tumors / drug therapy*
  • Gastrointestinal Stromal Tumors / surgery
  • Humans
  • Imatinib Mesylate
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Piperazines / therapeutic use*
  • Protein Kinase Inhibitors / therapeutic use*
  • Protein-Tyrosine Kinases / antagonists & inhibitors*
  • Pyrimidines / therapeutic use*
  • Tomography, X-Ray Computed

Substances

  • Antineoplastic Agents
  • Benzamides
  • Piperazines
  • Protein Kinase Inhibitors
  • Pyrimidines
  • Imatinib Mesylate
  • Protein-Tyrosine Kinases