Radiation Therapy as Palliative Treatment of GIST

Gastrointestinal stromal tumors (GISTs) are generally considered resistant to radiation, but no prospective trials addressing efficacy and tolerability of radiation therapy have been carried out. Limited clinical experience suggests that selected GIST patients may benefit from palliative radiation therapy. The purpose of this prospective, non-randomized, multicenter study is to evaluate efficacy and safety of palliative radiation therapy in GIST patients who have progressive GIST during or after tyrosine kinase inhibitor therapy.

Sex

All

Inclusion Criteria:

* Histologically verified GIST.
* Metastatic or locally advanced, inoperable disease.
* Adequate systemic treatment has been administered.
* One or more growing GIST metastasis present during of after TKI therapy.
* The target lesion(s) is measurable.
* A written informed consent

Exclusion Criteria:

* WHO performance status is 4.
* Estimated life-expectancy less than 3 months.
* Radiation planning target volume greater than 3 dm3.
* Unmeasurable target lesion. Bone and brain metastases are not accepted target lesions.
* Radiation therapy cannot be delivered (e.g. active infection or restlessness.)
* Pregnancy.
* Systemic GIST treatment with unknown efficacy.
* Copies of CT images cannot be sent for central review.

• DERIVEDJoensuu H, Eriksson M, Collan J, Balk MH, Leyvraz S, Montemurro M. Radiotherapy for GIST progressing during or after tyrosine kinase inhibitor therapy: A prospective study. Radiother Oncol. 2015 Aug;116(2):233-8. doi: 10.1016/j.radonc.2015.07.025. Epub 2015 Jul 27. PMID 26228971