Response of extraabdominal desmoid tumors to therapy with imatinib mesylate

Imatinib mesylate has been reported to have activity against desmoid tumor, most likely because of c-kit and PDGFR receptor tyrosine kinase activity inhibition, and warrants further study. The relative novelty of this agent and the lack of long-term toxicity data should prompt its use only in the salvage setting in which established local and systemic approaches fail to control disease. In addition, the use of imatinib mesylate in the treatment of this neoplasm preferably should be in the context of a formal prospective clinical trial.