Unlike most other chemotherapies, imatinib needs to be given continuous to patients with gastrointestinal stromal tumors (GIST) even after they have achieved a complete response. A prospective, randomized phase III trial by the French Sarcoma Group found that advanced GIST patients stopping imatinib experience frequent re-progression at 12 months. While discontinuing imatinib is not dangerous, it is better to continue giving the drug even if the patient is progressive.
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