Related Experiment Video
Updated: Aug 9, 2026
Robotic Duodenal Sleeve Resection for Gastrointestinal Stromal Tumor with Rare Exon 8 KIT Mutation Following Neoadjuvant Imatinib
Published on: April 3, 2026
Advanced gastrointestinal stromal tumor patients with complete response after treatment with imatinib mesylate
Kun-Chun Chiang1, Tsung-Wen Chen, Chun-Nan Yeh
1Department of Surgery, Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, 5, Fu-Hsing Street, Taoyuan, Taiwan, China.
Aim:
Most gastrointestinal stromal tumors (GISTs) express constitutively activated mutant isoforms of kit kinase or platelet-derived growth factor receptor alpha (PDGFRA), which are potential therapeutic targets for imatinib mesylate (Glivec). Partial response occurred in almost two thirds of GIST patients treated with Glivec. However, complete response (CR) after Glivec therapy was sporadically reported. Here we illustrated advanced GIST patients with CR after Glivec treatment.
Methods:
Between January 2001 and June 2005, 42 advanced GIST patients were treated with Glivec. Patients were administered 400 mg of Glivec in 100-mg capsules, taken orally daily with food. The response of the tumor to Glivec was evaluated after one month, three months, and every three months thereafter or whenever medical need was indicated. Each tumor of patients was investigated for mutations of kit or PDGFRA.
Results:
The median follow-up time of the 42 advanced GIST patients treated with Glivec was 16.9 months (range, 1.0-47.0 months). Overall, 3 patients had complete response CR (7.1%), 26 partial response (67.8%), 5 stationary disease (11.9%), and 3 progressive disease (11.9%). The median duration of Glivec administration for the three patients was 36 months (range, 23-36 months). The median time to CR after Glivec treatment was 20 months (range, 9-26 months). Deletion and insertion mutations of c-kit exon 11 and insertion mutation of c-kit exon 9 were found in two cases and one case, respectively.
Conclusion:
Complete response (CR) can be achi-eved in selected advanced GIST patients treated with Glivec. The median time to CR after Glivec treatment was 20 months. Deletion and insertion mutations of kit exon 11 and insertion mutation of kit exon 9 contribute to the genetic features in these selected cases.
Insights
Complete response (CR) is achievable in advanced gastrointestinal stromal tumors (GISTs) with imatinib mesylate (Glivec) treatment. This study highlights GIST patients who achieved CR, with a median time of 20 months, often linked to specific kit gene mutations.
Area of Science:
- Oncology
- Gastroenterology
- Pharmacology
Background:
- Most gastrointestinal stromal tumors (GISTs) harbor mutations in kit kinase or PDGFRA, making them targets for imatinib mesylate (Glivec).
- While Glivec yields partial responses in many GIST patients, complete response (CR) is rarely documented.
Purpose of the Study:
- To report on advanced GIST patients who achieved complete response (CR) after treatment with imatinib mesylate (Glivec).
Main Methods:
- 42 advanced GIST patients received 400 mg of Glivec daily.
- Tumor response was assessed regularly, and genetic analysis for kit or PDGFRA mutations was performed.
Main Results:
- 3 out of 42 patients (7.1%) achieved CR, with a median treatment duration of 36 months.
- The median time to achieve CR was 20 months.
- Specific mutations, including kit exon 11 deletions/insertions and kit exon 9 insertions, were identified in patients with CR.
Conclusions:
- Complete response (CR) is a possible outcome for select advanced GIST patients treated with Glivec.
- The median time to CR was 20 months.
- Genetic mutations in kit exon 11 and kit exon 9 appear to be associated with CR in these GIST cases.
