Preliminary data of a large, randomized, placebo-controlled clinical trial which tested imatinib mesylate (Gleevec ®) in patients with primary gastrointestinal stromal tumor (GIST) following complete removal of their tumor were found to be significantly less likely to have a recurrence of their cancer compared to the placebo group.

According to Elias A. Zerhouni, M.D., NIH Director:

“The standard treatment for primary GIST is complete surgical removal of the tumor without additional therapy. It is excellent news that addition of this well-tolerated cancer pill to the treatment regimen can have such a positive impact on decreasing the risk of recurrence.”

A product of Novartis Pharmaceuticals Corporation, Gleevec® belongs to a class of agents that block cellular communication to prevent tumor growth.

Gleevec®was USFDA-approved in 2002 for the treatment of unresectable or metastatic GIST.

The said clinical trial was sponsored by the National Cancer Institute (NCI) and conducted by a network of researchers led by the American College of Surgeons Oncology Group (ACOSOG).

Find more details from the full report.

Post from: Blisstree

Cancer Drug Gleevec® Decreases Recurrence in Primary Gastrointestinal Stromal Tumor (GIST) Patients