Imatinib mesylate as treatment for adenoid cystic carcinoma of the salivary glands: Report of two successfully treated cases
✍ Scribed by Juan Carlos Alcedo; José Manuel Fábrega; Juan Ramón Arosemena; Aníbal Urrutia
- Publisher
- John Wiley and Sons
- Year
- 2004
- Tongue
- English
- Weight
- 360 KB
- Volume
- 26
- Category
- Article
- ISSN
- 1043-3074
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✦ Synopsis
Abstract
Background.
Adenoid cystic carcinoma (ACC) is a malignant neoplasia of the salivary glands that is treated primarily by surgery. Local control and survival are usually compromised despite surgery. Expression of KIT tyrosine kinase is involved in the pathogenesis of ACC. Imatinib mesylate is a potent inhibitor of KIT tyrosine kinase, so we explored the possibility that ACC could be a potential target for this drug.
Methods.
We report two cases of unresectable ACC treated with imatinib mesylate in the context of recurrent disease (case 1) and locally advanced tumor at its initial presentation (case 2).
Results.
Both patients responded well to treatment with imatinib mesylate. Significant regression of recurrent disease (case 1) resulted in a successful salvage surgical resection; the locally advanced tumor (case 2) had an excellent response to treatment, but, unfortunately, the patient refused salvage resection.
Conclusion.
This is the first time ACC is reported to respond to imatinib mesylate. Studies in which more patients are enrolled in controlled clinical trials are needed to confirm this observation. © 2004 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Head Neck 26: 829–831, 2004