What are the current outcomes of advanced gastrointestinal stromal tumors: who are the long-term survivors treated initially with imatinib?

The introduction of imatinib to clinical practice revolutionized therapy of advanced gastrointestinal stromal tumors (GIST), but its long-term results have been only just collected. We have attempted to identify factors related to the long-term survival. We have analyzed the data of 430 inoperable/metastatic/recurrent GIST patients treated with imatinib in reference centers, assessed the factors influencing the long-term overall survival (OS), and compared the outcomes in three periods of initiation of imatinib therapy during one decade (2001-2003, 2004-2006, 2007-2010).

The outcome and predictive factors of sunitinib therapy in advanced gastrointestinal stromal tumors (GIST) after imatinib failure - one institution study.

Background: Gastrointestinal stromal tumors (GIST) mutational status is recognized factor related to the results of tyrosine kinase inhibitors therapy such as imatinib (IM) or sunitinib (SU). Arterial hypertension (AH) is common adverse event related to SU, reported as predictive factor in renal cell carcinoma. The aim of the study was to analyze the outcomes and factors predicting results of SU therapy in inoperable/metastatic CD117(+) GIST patients after IM failure.

The megavoltage radiation therapy in treatment of patients with advanced or difficult giant cell tumors of bone.

Purpose: To assess the outcomes of radiotherapy, in terms of local control and treatment complications, of advanced or difficult giant cell tumors of bone (GCTB) that could not be treated by surgery.

Methods And Materials: Among 122 consecutive patients with confirmed GCTB from 1985 to 2007, 77 patients were treated by megavoltage radiotherapy because they were inappropriate candidates for surgery. We have performed analysis of all data in terms of progression-free survival (PFS) and treatment morbidity.

Different factors are responsible for predicting relapses after primary tumors resection and for imatinib treatment outcomes in gastrointestinal stromal tumors.

Background: The development of accurate diagnostic methods in gastrointestinal stromal tumors (GISTs) and the introduction of imatinib (IM) therapy has focused attention on the factors influencing the prognosis of patients with primary lesions as well as of patients with advanced disease treated with imatinib.

Material/methods: The clinico-pathological and genetic factors influencing disease-free survival (DFS) in 335 patients with primary CD117-immunopositive tumors (group A; calculated from primary tumor resection) and progression-free survival (PFS) in 232 metastatic/unresectable GIST patients treated with IM (group B; calculated from the start of imatinib therapy) were analyzed.

Results: In group A, statistically significant factors negatively influencing DFS(five-year DFS: 38%), both in univariate and multivariate analysis, were: primary tumor size >5 cm, mitotic index >5/50 HPF (high-power fields), male gender, primary tumor R1 resection or tumor rupture, non-gastric primary tumor localization.

Risk criteria and prognostic factors for predicting recurrences after resection of primary gastrointestinal stromal tumor.

Background: The introduction of adjuvant imatinib in gastrointestinal stromal tumors (GISTs) raised debate over the accuracy of National Institutes of Health risk criteria and the significance of other prognostic factors in GIST.

Methods: Tumor aggressiveness and other clinicopathological factors influencing disease-free survival (DFS) were assessed in 335 patients with primary resectable CD117-immunopositive GISTs (median follow-up, 31 months after primary tumor resection) from a prospectively collected tumor registry.

Results: Overall median DFS was 37 months, and estimated 5-year DFS was 37.

Predictive factors for long-term effects of imatinib therapy in patients with inoperable/metastatic CD117(+) gastrointestinal stromal tumors (GISTs).

The Purpose: To analyze the outcomes of treatment and factors predicting effects of imatinib (IM) therapy in inoperable/metastatic gastrointestinal stromal tumors (GIST) CD117(+) patients.

Materials And Methods: We identified 232 patients in a prospectively collected Clinical GIST Registry with advanced inoperable/metastatic GIST treated with IM 400-800 mg daily (129 males and 103 females and median age 56 years). Median follow-up time was 26 months.

Surgical treatment of patients with initially inoperable and/or metastatic gastrointestinal stromal tumors (GIST) during therapy with imatinib mesylate.

Background: The aim of the study was to analyze the surgical possibilities of unresectable and/or metastatic GIST CD117(+) patients during imatinib treatment.

Methods: We analyzed the results of surgery in 141 patients treated with imatinib for initially inoperable and/or metastatic GIST CD117(+). Median follow-up time was 12 months (range: 3-26).

An assessment of the effectiveness of magnetic resonance imaging in delayed sequences after administration of Gd-DTPA contrast in the detection of metastatic lesions in the brain.

Background: Advances in oncology in recent years have made it possible to undertake radical interventions even in advanced cases. Local treatment, surgical or radiosurgical, is applied ever more frequently in cases of metastases to the brain. This requires accurate determination of the number and location of metastases by means of imaging techniques.