Gleevec is approved for CML and GIST tumors. It is tempting to use it for other c-kit positive tumors and several case reports seemed to promise activity, but a phase II study published in 2007 found no responses in adenoid cystic carcinoma. A study reported in 2005 was stopped becasuu of the lack of activity.
Pfeffer MR, Talmi Y, Catane R, Symon Z, Yosepovitch A, Levitt M.
A phase II study of Imatinib for advanced adenoid cystic carcinoma of head and neck salivary glands.
© 2005 American Society of Clinical Oncology.
DOI: 10.1200/JCO.2005.06.125
Imatinib Mesylate in Patients With Adenoid Cystic Cancers of the Salivary Glands Expressing c-kit: A Princess Margaret Hospital Phase II Consortium StudyJournal of Clinical Oncology, Vol 23, No 3 (January 20), 2005: pp. 585-590