A metastatic case of gastrointestinal stromal tumor (GIST) treated with imatinib mesylate (Glivec(®)) in Mali

Abstract

Gastrointestinal stromal tumors (GIST) usually showing a spindle cells pattern of cell proliferation have recently benefit from a molecular definition. Indeed imatinib mesylate (Gleevec(®)) treatment has dramatically improved the management of these tumors as they frequently express the c-kit oncogene. We report the first case of a metastatic gastric GIST in a man of 45 years diagnosed and treated in Mali. The gastric tumor was particularly aggressive with a large intra-abdominal and mesenteric spreading and liver metastases. The diagnosis was done on the CD117 and CD34 expression in the tumor sample obtained by laparotomy. After a 34 months 400mg/day imatinib mesylate (Gleevec(®)) treatment a dramatic tumor regression was obtained.