From author's abstract: "Gastrointestinal stromal tumors (GISTs), the most common sarcoma of the GI tract,
have unique kinase mutations that serve as targets for medical therapy. This article reviews the
data supporting the use of the tyrosine kinase inhibitor (TKI) imatinib in GIST patients, and how
this treatment should be combined with surgical resection (when possible) to optimize patient
outcomes. Although surgical resection remains the mainstay of treatment for these tumors,
patients with resected GISTs have high relapse rates that can be reduced by 1 year of adjuvant
imatinib. Data also support the use of imatinib for patients with recurrent or unresectable GIST.
In these patients the drug should be continued until progression, intolerance, or the patients are
rendered resectable. Patients with advanced GIST who are successfully resected after imatinib
treatment should be placed back on imatinib postoperatively".
http://www.dovepress.com/oncotargets-and-therapy-journal
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