• Jaap Verweij, Paolo G Casali, John Zalcberg, Axel LeCesne, Peter Reichardt, Jean-Yves Blay, Rolf Issels, Allan van Oosterom, Pancras C W Hogendoorn, Martine Van Glabbeke, Rossella Bertulli, and Ian Judson.
• Department of Medical Oncology, Erasmus University Medical Centre, Groene Hilledijk 301, 3075 EA Rotterdam, Netherlands. j.verweij@erasmusmc.nl
• Lancet. 2004 Sep 25; 364 (9440): 1127-34.

BackgroundImatinib is approved worldwide for use in gastrointestinal stromal tumours (GIST). We aimed to assess dose dependency of response and progression-free survival with imatinib for metastatic GIST.Methods946 patients were randomly allocated imatinib 400 mg either once or twice a day. Those assigned the once a day regimen who had progression were offered the option of crossover. The primary endpoint was progression-free survival. Analysis was by intention to treat.FindingsAt median follow-up of 760 days (IQR 644-859), 263 (56%) of 473 patients allocated imatinib once a day had progressed compared with 235 (50%) of 473 who were assigned treatment twice a day (estimated hazard ratio 0.82 [95% CI 0.69-0.98]; p=0.026). Side-effects arose in 465/470 (99%) patients allocated the once daily regimen compared with 468/472 (99%) assigned treatment twice a day. By comparison with the group treated once a day, more dose reductions (77 [16%] vs 282 [60%]) and treatment interruptions (189 [40%] vs 302 [64%]) were recorded in patients allocated the twice daily regimen, but treatment in both arms was fairly well tolerated. 52 (5%) patients achieved a complete response, 442 (47%) a partial response, and 300 (32%) stable disease, with no difference between groups. Median time to best response was 107 days (IQR 58-172).InterpretationIf response induction is the only aim of treatment, a daily dose of 400 mg of imatinib is sufficient; however, a dose of 400 mg twice a day achieves significantly longer progression-free survival.

34 keywords...

hide…