Imatinib dose optimisation following the disease progression in a patient with metastatic GIST

Here we report a case of a man affected by metastatic GIST since march 2007. His oncologic history began in 2006 when he was submitted to ileal resection and diagnosis of abdominal GIST was made. He was free of disease at radiologic controls until march 2007, when peritoneal nodules were shown. He started imatinib as first line therapy at standard dose of 400 mg/day and he reached a partial response at 6 months according to Response Evaluation Criteria In Solid Tumors (RECIST). After 24 months he performed CT scan that showed progression disease. For this reason he increased imatinib dose to 800 mg/day. Imatinib was safely administered and radiologic analysis performed at 3 and 6 months demonstrated stable disease according to RECIST. The patient is continuing oral therapy with imatinib at 800 mg/day and the disease is still stable.