Optimal Avapritinib Treatment Strategies for Patients with Metastatic or Unresectable Gastrointestinal Stromal Tumors

Cissimol P. Joseph MS, RN, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center
Sarah N. Abaricia
Michelle A. Angelis
Kathleen Polson
Robin L. Jones
Yoon-Koo Kang
Richard F. Reidel
Patrick Schöffski
César Serrano
Jonathan Trent
Eric D. Tetzlaff
Tuan Dong Si
Teresa Zhou
Ashley Doyle
Sebastian Bauer
Maria Roche
Tracy Havnaer

Description

Implications for practice

Early recognition of adverse events and tailored dose modification appear to be effective approaches for managing treatment-related adverse events and maintaining patients on avapritinib. Dose reduction does not appear to result in reduced efficacy. Patients' cognitive function should be assessed at baseline and monitored carefully throughout treatment with avapritinib for the onset of cognitive adverse events. Dose interruption is recommended at the first sign of any cognitive effect, including grade 1 events.

Full article: Joseph CP, Abaricia SN, Angelis MA, Polson K, et. al. (2021), Optimal Avapritinib Treatment Strategies for Patients with Metastatic or Unresectable Gastrointestinal Stromal Tumors. The Oncol, 26: e622-e631. https://doi.org/10.1002/onco.13632

Cissimol Joseph pictured.