Individualized surgical treatment in patients with advanced gastrointestinal stromal tumor — a case series

Abstract

In this case series we present the cases of two patients at a metastatic stage of stomach gastrointestinal stromal tumor, who received treatment with imatinib. After a period of disease stability patients showed signs of resistance to the first-line therapy and despite the promising switch to sunitinib, developed life-threatening complications. Salvage surgeries were performed, aimed at preserving patients life and simultaneously reducing the tumor mass. Operation greatly improved patients condition and allowed for successful continuation of tyrosine kinase inhibitor treatment, showing that surgery should be considered a viable complement to the chemotherapeutical treatment.