Table 3.
Main toxicities associated with imatinib mesylate and reasons for discontinuation, metastatic patients excluded.
| Patients N (%) | ||
|---|---|---|
| Variable | All grades | Grade 3–4 |
| Edema/fluid retention | 28 (48) | 1 (2) |
| Fatigue | 29 (50) | 1 (2) |
| Nausea | 20 (34) | |
| Skin rash/dermatitis | 7 (12) | 2 (3) |
| Other* | 15 (26) | 3 (5) |
| Treatment status | ||
| Continued on IM | 20 (34) | |
| Stopped IM | 38 (66) | |
| Reason for stopping | ||
| Progression | 1 (2) | |
| Toxicity | 7 (12) | |
| Surgery | 10 (17) | |
| Patient choice | 14 (24) | |
| Physician decision | 5 (9) | |
| Other tumor | 1 (2) | |
IM = imatinib mesylate, N = Number of patients. Forty-five (78%) patients reported at least one adverse event with IM. *Other grade 1–2 complaints were diarrhea, reflux, auditory hallucinations, conjunctivitis, sexual impairment, asthenia, alopecia, cramps and dyspnea. Five (11%) patients had grade 3–4 toxicities, including neutropenia, acute hepatitis, auditory hallucinations.