Surgical interventions during STI 571 treatment of metastatic GIST: experience in six patients

Gastrointestinal stromal tumours (GIST), previously classified as smooth muscle tumours, are the most common mesenchymal tumours of the digestive tract. Since the discovery of KIT (CD 117) expression, these tumours can be diagnosed confidently by pathology. Until recently, surgery was the only treatment available because these tumours were not sensitive to chemotherapy nor radiation therapy. In the long run most of these tumours recurred in the abdominal cavity or in the liver. Recently a new drug STI 573 (Glivec) showed very promising results in metastatic disease with response rates of about 65%. In six patients treated at our center, surgery was indicated during STI therapy because of subobstruction, skin necrosis, abdominal distention, bleeding. Surgery proved to be safe and efficient, allowing continuation of STI therapy in much better circumstances.