Gastrointestinal Stromal Tumors Medication
- Author: Sandeep Mukherjee, MB, BCh, MPH, FRCPC; Chief Editor: Julian Katz, MD more...
Medication Summary
Imatinib mesylate is the only available drug that has made a significant impact in the treatment of GISTs.
Selective tyrosine kinase inhibitors
Class Summary
Imatinib mesylate (STI 571) is a selective tyrosine kinase inhibitor with action against mutant c-Kit as occurs in association with GISTs. It represents a breakthrough in antineoplastic drug therapy because it is targeted against a specific molecular derangement.
In 1996, Druker et al were the first to report this effect in laboratory experiments.[28] In 2001, Druker, Talpaz, and coworkers reported the results of clinical trials demonstrating >90% complete clinical response rates.[29]
Following the Hirota et al 1998 landmark report of the role of c-kit proto-oncogene mutations in the pathogenesis of GISTs, involving activation of KIT tyrosine kinase, it was hypothesized that KIT inhibition might be a successful treatment strategy for GISTs. Druker et al in 1996, Buchdunger et al in 1996, and Heinrich et al in 2000 indeed demonstrated such activity in the laboratory in various cell lines.[28, 30, 31] In 2001, Tuveson et al proved in vivo efficacy against human GIST cells, showing that STI-571 produced cell cycle arrest and apoptosis.[32]
Clinical trials with imatinib quickly followed. In 2001, Blanke et al reported preliminary results using imatinib in 145 subjects. No complete responses were observed.[33] The partial clinical response rate was 59%, and 13% of the group had progression of disease while receiving imatinib doses of 400-600 mg/d.
In 2002, van Oosterom et al published their results from 35 patients with GISTs receiving imatinib doses of 400-1000 mg/d.[34] Partial responses were achieved in 54%, and disease remained stable in an additional 37%. The most common adverse effects were periorbital edema (40%), peripheral edema (37%), fatigue (30%), rash (30%), and nausea and vomiting (25%). Late severe myelosuppression was uncommon. The highest well-tolerated dose in this study was 400 mg bid. At doses of 500 mg bid, severe nausea, vomiting, edema, and rashes were common. After a minimum follow-up of 10 mo, 82% of subjects continued to have a partial disease response (51%) or no evidence of disease progression (31%).
The optimal dose for imatinib mesylate remains unknown. However, despite initial efficacy of imatinib mesylate in most, drug resistance is common. Clinical management of GIST may benefit from further molecular characterization of tumors before and after imatinib mesylate treatment.
Rink et al studied gene expression using oligonucleotide microarrays on tumor samples obtained before and after imatinib mesylate therapy.[35] Thirty-eight genes were expressed at significantly lower levels in the pretreatment biopsy samples from tumors that significantly responded to 8-12 weeks of imatinib mesylate, that is, >25% tumor reduction. Eighteen of these genes encoded Krüppel-associated box (KRAB) domain containing zinc finger (ZNF) transcriptional repressors. Ten KRAB-ZNF genes mapped to a single locus on chromosome 19p, and a subset predicted likely response to imatinib mesylate-based therapy in a naïve panel of GIST. This gene signature that includes KRAB-ZNF 91 subfamily members that may be both predictive of and functionally associated with likely response to short-term imatinib mesylate treatment.
Imatinib (Gleevec R)
Also known as STI-571, first received attention as an inhibitor of the BCR-ABL fusion protein, which induces uncontrolled tyrosine kinase activity in CML.
Multikinase inhibitors
Class Summary
Elicit actions via multiple tyrosine kinase inhibitors implicated in tumor growth, pathologic angiogenesis, and metastatic progression.
Sunitinib (Sutent)
Multikinase inhibitor that targets several tyrosine kinase inhibitors implicated in tumor growth, pathologic angiogenesis, and metastatic progression. Inhibits platelet-derived growth factor receptors (ie, PDGFR-alpha, PDGFR-beta), vascular endothelial growth factor receptors (ie, VEGFR1, VEGFR2, VEGFR3), stem cell factor receptor (KIT), Fms-like tyrosine kinase-3 (FLT3), colony-stimulating factor receptor type 1 (CSF-1R), and the glial cell-line–derived neurotrophic factor receptor (RET).
Indicated for persons with gastrointestinal stromal tumors (GISTs) whose disease has progressed or who are unable to tolerate treatment with imatinib (Gleevec). Delays median time to tumor progression.
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