[Effect of imatinib treatment of gastrointestinal stromal tumors]. / Az imatinibkezelés hatása gastrointestinalis stroma eredetú daganatokban.

INTRODUCTION: Advanced malignant gastrointestinal stromal tumours are practically resistant to further radio- or chemotherapy. These tumours are characterized by the presence of C-KIT (a transmembrane tyrosin kinase) mutation which can be specified by CD117 expression. Imatinib (2-fenilaminopirimidine) is a selective inhibitor of the mutated C-KIT. AIM: The purpose of our study was to determine the potential antitumour effect of imatinib in patients with gastrointestinal stroma tumour patients. MATERIALS AND METHODS: An open, non-randomized trial was performed involving 38 patients each of which had received/metastatic disease associated with CD117 positivity. Consecutively daily doses of 400-600 mg imatinib was administered orally to the patients. The evaluation was carried out on 37 patients in a form of an interim analysis. RESULTS: After a 3-18 months observation period 1 complete, 19 partial remissions and 10 static diseases could be registered (78%), in association of only grade 1-2 toxicity. CONCLUSIONS: The imatinib treatment improved the quality of life of the patients with gastrointestinal stroma tumour and their life expectancy became considerably prolonged. Further follow-up of the patients as well as design of a prospective, randomized trial on a larger patient material is urgently needed.