Abstract
Imatinib therapy for unresectable or metastatic gastrointestinal stromal tumour (GIST) is typically initiated at a dosage of 400 mg/d. Two phase 3 studies investigated whether the higher dose of 800 mg/d - administered initially or upon progression on the 400-mg dose - would improve outcomes. Both the studies confirmed the 400 mg/d starting dose for most patients. However, two groups benefited from the treatment with 800 mg/d of imatinib: patients with disease progression on standard-dose therapy, and patients whose tumour harbours an exon 9 mutation in KIT. Initial treatment with 800 mg/d of imatinib (400 mg BID) should be considered for patients with KIT exon 9-mutant GIST. In unselected patients, dose optimisation to 800 mg/d may be warranted as a first step in managing progressive disease; such patients should be closely monitored.
Original language | English (US) |
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Pages (from-to) | 501-509 |
Number of pages | 9 |
Journal | European Journal of Cancer |
Volume | 44 |
Issue number | 4 |
DOIs | |
State | Published - Mar 2008 |
Keywords
- Dose optimisation
- Gastrointestinal stromal tumour
- Genotype
- Imatinib
- KIT
- Mutational analysis
- Platelet-derived growth factor receptor alpha
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Oncology
- Cancer Research