Imatinib-induced liver cirrhosis in a patient with advanced gastrointestinal stroma tumor (GIST)

• Main Authors: Seidel Christoph, Fenner Martin, Länger Florian, Bantel Heike, Ganser Arnold, Grünwald Viktor
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: BMC 2012-05-01
• Series: BMC Cancer
• Subjects: GIST; Imatinib; Liver cirrhosis
• Online Access: http://www.biomedcentral.com/1471-2407/12/186

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>The use of imatinib mesylate is associated with a progression free survival of 41 months in first line treatment of metastatic or locally advanced gastrointestinal stromal tumors (GIST) and other studies approved that adjuvant imatinib treatment improves the recurrence-free survival in patients with GIST. Current recommendations include 1 year adjuvant treatment in GIST patients at risk but active studies explore different durations of treatment with an interval of up to 5 years. While the most frequent adverse events (AEs) are blood count alterations, abdominal discomfort and edema, the occurrence of grade 3 or 4 increase of AST or ALT is specified with 2.1% and 2.7% respectively.</p> <p>Case presentation</p> <p>We report a 49-year old male with a gastrointestinal stromal tumor (GIST) of the small bowel who developed liver cirrhosis under adjuvant imatinib treatment.</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>Our report supports the notion that imatinib-induced hepatotoxicity may lead to acute liver damage with subsequent cirrhotic remodelling. Patients developing grade 3 or 4 hepatotoxicity during imatinib treatment should therefore be carefully evaluated for chronic liver disease.</p>