Radiotherapy as salvage treatment after failure of tyrosine kinase inhibitors for a patient with advanced gastrointestinal stromal tumor

摘要

Gastrointestinal stromal tumors (GISTs) are c-Kit (CD117)-expressing mesenchymal tumors of the gastrointestinal tract. Understanding the molecular characteristics of these uncommon tumors has led to the use of c-Kit-targeting tyrosine kinase inhibitors in the treatment of patients with advanced GISTs. Although imatinib, sunitinib, and regorafenib have drastically improved survival in patients with advanced GISTs, there remains a need for salvage treatment options for patients whose tumors progress despite tyrosine kinase inhibitor treatment. Historically considered to be chemoresistant and radioresistant, a substantial amount of research has focused on the use of targeted therapies for patients with advanced GISTs. Herein, we present a patient with an advanced GIST who had clinical and radiographic responses to radiotherapy after failure of imatinib and sunitinib.