Medical Journal Critique

Medical Journal Critique

Citations : Demetri , G .D , von Mehren , M , Blanke , C . D . Et al (2002 Efficacy and Safety of Imatinib Mesylate in Advanced Gastrointestinal Stromal Tumors , NEJM , 347 (7 : 472-280 . HYPERLINK "http /content .nejm .org /cgi /content /full /347 /7 /472 http /content .nejm .org /cgi /content /full /347 /7 /472

Original Abstract (Quoted from the Article

Background : Constitutive activation of KIT receptor tyrosine kinase is critical in the pathogenesis of gastrointestinal stromal tumors Imatinib mesylate , a selective tyrosine kinase inhibitor , has been shown in preclinical models and preliminary clinical

studies to have activity against such tumors

Methods : We conducted an open-label , randomized , multicenter trial to evaluate the activity of imatinib in patients with advanced gastrointestinal stromal tumor . We assessed antitumor response and the safety and tolerability of the drug . Pharmacokinetics were assessed in a subgroup of patients

Results : A mg or 600 mg of imatinib daily . Overall , 79 patients (53 .7 percent ) had a partial response , 41 patients (27 .9 percent ) had stable disease , and for technical reasons , response could not be evaluated in 7 patients (4 .8 percent . No patient had a complete response to the treatment . The median duration of response had not been reached after a median follow-up of 24 weeks after the onset of response . Early resistance to imatinib was noted in 20 patients (13 .6 percent . Therapy was well tolerated , although mild-to-moderate edema , diarrhea , and fatigue were common . Gastrointestinal or intra-abdominal hemorrhage...