Glivec(R) is the First Adjuvant Treatment Approved in the UK to Delay Return of Gastrointestinal Cancer Aft...( FRIMLEY England May 8 /- -...),Health

FRIMLEY, England, May 8 /PRNewswire/ --

- Glivec(R) (imatinib) Now Approved in the UK for Post-Surgery Treatment of Patients With KIT (CD117)-Positive Gastrointestinal Stromal Tumours (GIST), who are at Significant Risk of the Cancer Returning After Surgery(1)

- Use of Glivec(R) After Surgery Significantly Reduces Risk of Cancer Relapse(2)

- If Untreated After Surgery, 50% of patients Will Experience Their Cancer Returning Within Two Years(3,4)

Glivec(R) has been approved in the UK for the treatment of patients with the gastrointestinal cancer, KIT (CD117)-positive gastrointestinal stromal tumours (GIST), who have had surgery to remove their cancer and are at significant risk of the cancer returning.(1) Data supporting this new use for Glivec demonstrates that 98% of patients receiving 400mg Glivec daily for a year after surgery to remove their GIST did not experience their tumours returning after 12 months compared to 83% of patients taking placebo.(2)

Approximately 900 people in the UK are diagnosed with GIST(5) each year and approximately 86% of those diagnosed will undergo surgery to remove the tumour or tumours.(6) However, if left untreated after surgery, almost 50% of all patients suffer a relapse within two years and recurrent tumours are often more aggressive and more difficult to treat than the initial tumours.(3,4,7) The availability of Glivec for this patient population addresses a previously unmet need for GIST patients.

Roger Wilson, of patient group Sarcoma UK said: "After GIST surgery, patients have to live with the knowledge that there is around a 50 percent chance of their cancer returning. For those patients whose GIST does return, this can be devastating both physically and emotionally, even though Glivec can manage recurring GISTs. We hope that the future use of Glivec in the adjuvant setting will help to reduce the risk of GIST re
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