Abstract

ACEVEDO, Javier et al. Tumores del estroma gastrointestinal: Resultados del tratamiento. Rev. venez. oncol. [online]. 2006, vol.18, n.1, pp.14-18. ISSN 0798-0582.

OBJECTIVE: Review our experience with imatinib in gastrointestinal stromal tumors at the Internal Medicine Service. METHODS: We analyzed 9 patients with a diagnosis of gastrointestinal stromal tumor between the year 2000 and 2004. Variables such as age, sex, date of diagnosis, duration of treatment, location of the tumor, immunohistochemical findings, presence of metastatic disease, recurrence, toxicity and median survival were evaluated. RESULTS: Median follow up was of 17 months. Three patients (33,3 %) were male and six female (66,6 %) with a median age of 43.1 years. Six patients were treated with imatinib. The anatomic location of the tumors was gastric in 3 cases and small bowel, transverse colon and ileum, retroperitoneum and liver in one case respectively. Previously, all patients underwent exploratory laparotomy. Two patients received preo-perative chemotherapy. The six patients received an initial dose of 400 mg OD of imatinib. A clinical response consisting in a regression of tumor volume was observed at two to four weeks. The most common adverse effects were leg edema in 3 patients (50 %), myalgias, muscular cramps in 2 patients (33,3 %) and gastritis in two patients (33,3 %). CONCLUSIONS: We recommend treatment with imatinib in patients with gastrointestinal stromal tumors at a daily dose of 400 mg or 600 mg with an acceptable toxicity.

Keywords : GIST; inmunohystochemistry; gastrointestinal stromal tumors; treatment; imatinib.