Purpose: To assess the effects of treating and side effect of Imatinib (Glivec) in GISTs. Methods and Materials: a prospective clinical interventions in 35 patients with GIST, who had a CD 117 (+) and used Glivec at the nuclear medicine and oncology center - Bach Mai hospital from 4/2012 to 6/2014. Results: Age: Average age was 56.9 years old. Ages at the time of Glivec ranged from 37 (youngest) to 75 (oldest). Rates male/remale: 1.33/1. The primitive tumors appeared at stomach (45,7 percent), small Intestine (25,7 percent). 28 patients use Imatinib (Glivec) 400 mg/day, 1 patient used the dose 800 mg/day because he had the mutation in exon 9. Evaluation after 26 month: 1 patient responded completely
20 patient partially responded
12 patients were with a stable disease and 2 patients with a disease's progression. The time Progression-free survival: 18-25 months and the time overall survival: 18-21 months. The side effects of Imatinib (Glivec) was mild, the most common: white skin (68,5 percent)
nausea
fatigue (45,7 percent)
dermatitis (44,9 percent)
conjunctivitis (34.2 percent) and periorbital edema (34.2 percent). The side effect on the heamatological system, liver and kidney are in grade 1. Conclusions: Glivec is safe and effective targeted-drug to treat GIST.