Complete pathological response in advanced extra-gastrointestinal stromal tumor after imatinib mesylate therapy: a case report.

BACKGROUND: Gastrointestinal stromal tumors are uncommon intra-abdominal tumors. In fewer than 5% of cases, they originate primarily from the mesentery, omentum or peritoneum and these extra-gastrointestinal stromal tumors tend to have characteristics similar to gastrointestinal stromal. CASE REPORT: We report a case of extra-gastrointestinal stromal tumor in a 76-year-old male, Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group (ECOG) performance status of 2. Abdominal Computed Tomography (CT) showed multiple non-homogeneous confluent nodules at the level of the greater omentum and mesentery, involving the bladder and rectum, with additional peritoneal nodules in the upper abdomen. In March 2008, the patient started imatinib mesylate at 400 mg/day. Instrumental examinations showed progressive response until thoracic-abdominal CT in February 2012 which documented a complete response. Follow-up ended in October 2013. Treatment with imatinib, in addition to pathological response, provided clinical benefit, a progressive regression of symptoms and improved the patient's ECOG performance status from 2 to 0.

Biweekly sunitinib regimen reduces toxicity and retains efficacy in metastatic renal cell carcinoma: a single-center experience with 31 patients.

OBJECTIVES: Sunitinib is the standard care for first-line treatment of metastatic renal cell carcinoma. The aim of this study was to determine whether a sunitinib regimen of 50 mg/day 2-weeks on/1-week off could maintain the same dose-intensity as the standard 4-weeks on/2-weeks off schedule, and provide the same efficacy in terms of objective response, progression-free survival and overall survival, while reducing drug-related toxicity. METHODS: A total of 31 patients with metastatic renal cell carcinoma received sunitinib orally at the dose of 50 mg/day in a 2-weeks on/1-week off regimen until disease progression or intolerable toxicities occurred. RESULTS: All enrolled patients were assessable in terms of toxicity and response. They received treatment for a median of 16 months (range 2.0-36.0+ months). A total of 13 patients (42%) obtained an objective response; disease stabilization was achieved in 10 patients (32%), whereas eight patients (26%) experienced disease progression. The most important toxicities were anemia, gastrointestinal effects, fatigue and hypertension, but they were all controlled. CONCLUSIONS: Sunitinib 50 mg given orally in a 2-weeks on/1-week off regimen can provide a high response rate and avoid drug-related toxicities, achieving the same dose intensity as the standard schedule, and probably longer disease control.