Abstract
Background : Imatinib has shown dramatic clinical effects on patients with advanced GIST, however, focally imatinib-resistant diseases often arise during imatinib treatment. The significance of surgical intervention for focally progressive diseases of metastatic/recurrent GIST has not been clearly defined. Patients and Method : Between 2004 and 2012, consecutive 18 patients with metastatic/recurrent GIST received imatinib treatment. Among of them, five patients who had undergone surgical removal of focally progressive disease were enrolled in a retrospective study investigating their surgical outcomes. Results : In all five patients, focally progressive tumors were removed, but no complete resection of metastatic/recurrent GIST was achieved in them. The median time to progression was 412 days and the 2-year progression free survival rate was 20%. The median survival time from surgery to focal progression was 1051 days and the 2-year survival rate was 60%. Conclusion : Surgical intervention may have some benefits for patients with metastatic/recurrent GIST with focally progressive disease. Further studies are needed to confirm the efficacy and feasibility of surgical intervention for them.
