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Neoadjuvant imatinib therapy in rectal gastrointestinal stromal tumors

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Abstract

Rectal gastrointestinal stromal tumor (GIST) is a rare entity. Thus, its clinical features have not been well documented, and optimal treatment strategies have not been established. Surgery for rectal GISTs may be difficult because they are often large in size. In addition, rectal GISTs were found to be associated with high rates of local recurrence, regardless of the surgical procedure, before imatinib was introduced in the early 2000s. Since the introduction of imatinib therapy, accumulating evidence suggests that neoadjuvant imatinib therapy may improve the outcomes of rectal GIST treatment. Neoadjuvant imatinib therapy for rectal GISTs offers a number of potential benefits, including tumor downsizing, reduction in mitotic activity, reduced morbidity, and a reduced risk of recurrence. Less radical procedures may allow for the preservation of the anal sphincter and avoidance of a permanent colostomy. This review summarizes the current status and future perspectives of neoadjuvant imatinib therapy for the treatment of rectal GISTs.

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Acknowledgements

This research is supported by Grants-in-Aid for Scientific Research (C: grant number;16K07143, C: grant number;16K07161, C: grant number;17K10620, C: grant number;17K10621, C: grant number;17K10623 and C: grant number;18K07194) from Japan Society for the promotion of Science. This research is supported by the Project for Cancer Research and Therapeutic Evolution P-CREATE, grant number: 18 cm0106502h0003 from the Japan Agency for Medical Research and Development (AMED).

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  1. Department of Surgical Oncology, Faculty of Medicine, The University of Tokyo, 7-3-1 Hongo, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo, 113-8655, Japan

    Manabu Kaneko, Shigenobu Emoto, Koji Murono, Hirofumi Sonoda, Masaya Hiyoshi, Kazuhito Sasaki, Yasutaka Shuno, Takeshi Nishikawa, Toshiaki Tanaka, Keisuke Hata, Kazushige Kawai & Hiroaki Nozawa

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  1. Manabu Kaneko
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Kaneko, M., Emoto, S., Murono, K. et al. Neoadjuvant imatinib therapy in rectal gastrointestinal stromal tumors. Surg Today 49, 460–466 (2019). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00595-018-1737-5

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