Neoadjuvant imatinib in gastrointestinal stromal tumors (GIST): The first analysis of a Mexican population

Gastrointestinal stromal tumors (GISTs) arise from the interstitial cells of Cajal and can be challenging to surgically remove when they are locally advanced or near vital structures. This retrospective study examined 312 GIST patients, 102 of whom had unresectable tumors and were treated with 400 mg of imatinib daily, resulting in tumor size reduction in 15.7% of cases, allowing surgery. The findings suggest that neoadjuvant imatinib can effectively shrink unresectable GISTs, enabling complete surgical resection in most cases.