| Abstract: | A 78-year-old woman was admitted to our hospital because of tarry stools. A gastric stromal tumor with liver metastasis was diagnosed. Treatment with imatinib mesilate was begun in a dose of 400 mg daily. After 1 month, the primary tumor showed a partial response; the response of the liver metastasis was stable disease. However, grade 2 edema, leukocytopenia, and anemia developed, and the dose of imatinib mesilate was reduced to 200 mg daily. The adverse reactions resolved promptly, and a partial response of both the primary tumor and liver metastasis to imatinib mesilate has been maintained for 28 months. Strategies for lowering the dose of imatinib mesilate are reviewed. |
