Abstract
Introduction: Gastrointestinal stromal tumors (GISTs) are the most common gastrointestinal mesenchymal tumors. The activating mutation in the KIT (c-kit; CD117) proto-oncogene with subsequent tyrosine kinase activation plays a central role in the pathogenesis of GIST. Tyrosine kinase inhibitors are an integral part of GIST therapy. Initial response to neoadjuvant imatinib can be expected in up to 70% of the patients, thus offering an opportunity to surgically treat those with locally advanced primary or recurrent GIST. This favorable response to imatinib, however, is plagued with development of secondary resistance during the course of therapy. Case description: We herein report a case of recurrent locally advanced GIST in an elderly man, with excellent performance status, successfully managed with the integration of neoadjuvant targeted therapy and surgery. Discussion: Continued monitoring by a multidisciplinary team, including a surgeon, is vital for the success of neoadjuvant imatinib therapy for unresectable primary or recurrent GIST in the context of emergence of secondary resistance. As such, surgeons should participate in managing imatinib-treated GIST, as resection may become a viable curative option. This case also highlights that major oncologic resections can be safely performed in older persons when their performance status and comorbidities are carefully considered.
Original language | English (US) |
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Pages (from-to) | 557-561 |
Number of pages | 5 |
Journal | Journal of Gastrointestinal Surgery |
Volume | 14 |
Issue number | 3 |
DOIs | |
State | Published - Mar 2010 |
Bibliographical note
Funding Information:Supported by “The 2008 Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW) and Ladies Cancer Research Center Endowment Fund” V.Dudeja.L.H.Armstrong.P.Gupta.H.Ansel.S.Askari. W. B. Al-Refaie (*) Division of Surgical Oncology, Department of Surgery, Minneapolis VAMC and University of Minnesota, 420 Delaware street SE, Mayo mail code195, Minneapolis, MN 55455, USA e-mail: alref003@umn.edu
Copyright:
Copyright 2010 Elsevier B.V., All rights reserved.
Keywords
- C-kit
- Drug resistance
- Elderly
- Gastrointestinal stromal tumor
- Imatinib mesylate
- Neoplasm
- Surgery