Imatinib for the treatment of unresectable and/or metastatic gastrointestinal stromal tumours

The Committee concluded that there were substantial gaps in the evidence and that research into the following areas should be considered:

• A national register should be maintained for all people with GISTs being treated with imatinib, sunitinib and best supportive care (to support future appraisals of treatments for this patient group). Details should include patient characteristics, dose and duration of treatment, tumour response rates and survival, both with and after discontinuation of treatment.

• The use of mutational analysis to predict individual response to imatinib treatment and long-term outcomes.

• The use of plasma level measurement to individualise imatinib treatment and to optimise long-term outcomes.