Low-dose imatinib efficacy in a gastrointestinal stromal tumor patient with KIT exon 11 W557_K558 deletion

This case study focuses on the effectiveness of a reduced dosage of imatinib in a patient diagnosed with a gastrointestinal stromal tumor (GIST). The tumor in this specific case had a particular genetic mutation, a W557_K558 deletion in KIT exon 11. While this mutation is typically associated with a high risk of recurrence, the report demonstrates that the lower dose of imatinib was still able to shrink the tumor and alleviate symptoms in the patient. The authors suggest that low-dose imatinib could be a viable treatment option for GIST patients with this specific mutation who experience adverse effects from standard higher doses.