Beasley, Allen, Crow, Methvin, Portis & Miles, P.C.

The FDA has approved a new treatment to reduce the risk of cancer returning in patients with gastrointestinal stomal tumors, a disease also known as GIST, however the medication has been linked to Stevens Johnson Syndrome, or SJS.

GIST are rare tumors that usually appear in the stomach or small intestine. They tend to be resistant to chemotherapy, and are considered aggressive cancers. Re-occurrences of GIST tumors tend to be more aggressive and are associated with lower survival rates.

The new treatment, Glivec, is the only post-surgery treatment that has been shown to delay the return of this deadly cancer. In studies conducted, Glivec was proven effective in more than 9 out of 10 patients who received the medication based on a 14-month follow up. Data sponsored by National Cancer Institute showed that 91.6 percent of patients on Glivec therapy remained cancer-free after a 14-month follow up compared to 80.2 percent of patients who took a placebo.

Glivec also is approved for the treatment of Philadelphia chromosome-positive myeloid leukemia, Kit-positive gastrointestinal stomal tumors which cannot be surgically removed or have metastasized, and other rare diseases. Regulatory reviews are currently underway in the European Union and Switzerland.

SJS has been listed as a rare adverse reaction to Glivec. SJS is a rare but life-threatening reaction to medication. It begins with a rash on the skin that blisters over, causing the skin to peel away in sheets. Blisters can also form on the eyes and mouth, leading to dehydration, infections and serious eye problems. The condition can be fatal.

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