Imatinib Desensitization After a Type IV Hypersensitivity Reaction in a Gastrointestinal Stromal Tumor Patient-A Case Report

Maud B A van der Kleij; Tristan V M Bruijn; Raween W Kalicharan; Yannick S Elshot; Maxime C F Pilon; Mark Oostdijk; Matthijs M Tibben; Bastiaan Nuijen; Alwin D R Huitema; Thomas Rustemeyer; Neeltje Steeghs

doi:10.1002/cnr2.70238

Imatinib Desensitization After a Type IV Hypersensitivity Reaction in a Gastrointestinal Stromal Tumor Patient-A Case Report

Maud B A van der Kleij^*
, Tristan V M Bruijn
, Raween W Kalicharan
, Yannick S Elshot
, Maxime C F Pilon
, Mark Oostdijk
, Matthijs M Tibben
, Bastiaan Nuijen
, Alwin D R Huitema
, Thomas Rustemeyer
, Neeltje Steeghs

^*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › Academic › peer-review

8 Downloads (Pure)

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Imatinib treatment is approved for several indications, including chronic myeloid leukemia (CML) and gastrointestinal stromal tumors (GIST). Although adverse events are common, hypersensitivity reactions are not. Because there is a clear clinical benefit of imatinib treatment, re-introduction of imatinib after a hypersensitivity reaction should be considered.

CASE: Here we present a case report of a 68-year-old patient with a GIST diagnosis who was re-introduced to imatinib after a type IV hypersensitivity reaction via desensitization. A desensitization plan, a plan for formulation of low-dose imatinib capsules, and the essential steps when considering desensitization are discussed.

CONCLUSION: Our case of a patient with a type IV hypersensitivity reaction after starting imatinib treatment demonstrates that desensitization is a feasible option after serious cutaneous adverse events in specific cases, when done with good interdisciplinary collaboration and clinical management.

Original language	English
Article number	e70238
Journal	Cancer reports (Hoboken, N.J.)
Volume	8
Issue number	6
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1002/cnr2.70238
Publication status	Published - Jun 2025

Keywords

Aged
Antineoplastic Agents/adverse effects
Desensitization, Immunologic/methods
Drug Hypersensitivity/etiology
Gastrointestinal Neoplasms/drug therapy
Gastrointestinal Stromal Tumors/drug therapy
Humans
Imatinib Mesylate/adverse effects
Male
Protein Kinase Inhibitors/adverse effects

Access to Document

10.1002/cnr2.70238Licence: CC BY

Cancer Reports - 2025 - Kleij - Imatinib Desensitization After a Type IV Hypersensitivity Reaction in a GastrointestinalFinal published version, 693 KBLicence: CC BY

Cite this

van der Kleij, M. B. A., Bruijn, T. V. M., Kalicharan, R. W., Elshot, Y. S., Pilon, M. C. F., Oostdijk, M., Tibben, M. M., Nuijen, B., Huitema, A. D. R., Rustemeyer, T., & Steeghs, N. (2025). Imatinib Desensitization After a Type IV Hypersensitivity Reaction in a Gastrointestinal Stromal Tumor Patient-A Case Report. Cancer reports (Hoboken, N.J.), 8(6), Article e70238. https://doi.org/10.1002/cnr2.70238

@article{d0639fe449ad4a8cb3784b3ead38879b,

title = "Imatinib Desensitization After a Type IV Hypersensitivity Reaction in a Gastrointestinal Stromal Tumor Patient-A Case Report",

abstract = "BACKGROUND: Imatinib treatment is approved for several indications, including chronic myeloid leukemia (CML) and gastrointestinal stromal tumors (GIST). Although adverse events are common, hypersensitivity reactions are not. Because there is a clear clinical benefit of imatinib treatment, re-introduction of imatinib after a hypersensitivity reaction should be considered.CASE: Here we present a case report of a 68-year-old patient with a GIST diagnosis who was re-introduced to imatinib after a type IV hypersensitivity reaction via desensitization. A desensitization plan, a plan for formulation of low-dose imatinib capsules, and the essential steps when considering desensitization are discussed.CONCLUSION: Our case of a patient with a type IV hypersensitivity reaction after starting imatinib treatment demonstrates that desensitization is a feasible option after serious cutaneous adverse events in specific cases, when done with good interdisciplinary collaboration and clinical management.",

keywords = "Aged, Antineoplastic Agents/adverse effects, Desensitization, Immunologic/methods, Drug Hypersensitivity/etiology, Gastrointestinal Neoplasms/drug therapy, Gastrointestinal Stromal Tumors/drug therapy, Humans, Imatinib Mesylate/adverse effects, Male, Protein Kinase Inhibitors/adverse effects",

author = "\{van der Kleij\}, \{Maud B A\} and Bruijn, \{Tristan V M\} and Kalicharan, \{Raween W\} and Elshot, \{Yannick S\} and Pilon, \{Maxime C F\} and Mark Oostdijk and Tibben, \{Matthijs M\} and Bastiaan Nuijen and Huitema, \{Alwin D R\} and Thomas Rustemeyer and Neeltje Steeghs",

note = "Publisher Copyright: {\textcopyright} 2025 The Author(s). Cancer Reports published by Wiley Periodicals LLC.",

year = "2025",

month = jun,

doi = "10.1002/cnr2.70238",

language = "English",

volume = "8",

journal = "Cancer reports (Hoboken, N.J.)",

issn = "2573-8348",

publisher = "Wiley-Blackwell Publishing Ltd",

number = "6",

}

van der Kleij, MBA, Bruijn, TVM, Kalicharan, RW, Elshot, YS, Pilon, MCF, Oostdijk, M, Tibben, MM, Nuijen, B, Huitema, ADR, Rustemeyer, T & Steeghs, N 2025, 'Imatinib Desensitization After a Type IV Hypersensitivity Reaction in a Gastrointestinal Stromal Tumor Patient-A Case Report', Cancer reports (Hoboken, N.J.), vol. 8, no. 6, e70238. https://doi.org/10.1002/cnr2.70238

TY - JOUR

T1 - Imatinib Desensitization After a Type IV Hypersensitivity Reaction in a Gastrointestinal Stromal Tumor Patient-A Case Report

AU - van der Kleij, Maud B A

AU - Bruijn, Tristan V M

AU - Kalicharan, Raween W

AU - Elshot, Yannick S

AU - Pilon, Maxime C F

AU - Oostdijk, Mark

AU - Tibben, Matthijs M

AU - Nuijen, Bastiaan

AU - Huitema, Alwin D R

AU - Rustemeyer, Thomas

AU - Steeghs, Neeltje

PY - 2025/6

Y1 - 2025/6

N2 - BACKGROUND: Imatinib treatment is approved for several indications, including chronic myeloid leukemia (CML) and gastrointestinal stromal tumors (GIST). Although adverse events are common, hypersensitivity reactions are not. Because there is a clear clinical benefit of imatinib treatment, re-introduction of imatinib after a hypersensitivity reaction should be considered.CASE: Here we present a case report of a 68-year-old patient with a GIST diagnosis who was re-introduced to imatinib after a type IV hypersensitivity reaction via desensitization. A desensitization plan, a plan for formulation of low-dose imatinib capsules, and the essential steps when considering desensitization are discussed.CONCLUSION: Our case of a patient with a type IV hypersensitivity reaction after starting imatinib treatment demonstrates that desensitization is a feasible option after serious cutaneous adverse events in specific cases, when done with good interdisciplinary collaboration and clinical management.

AB - BACKGROUND: Imatinib treatment is approved for several indications, including chronic myeloid leukemia (CML) and gastrointestinal stromal tumors (GIST). Although adverse events are common, hypersensitivity reactions are not. Because there is a clear clinical benefit of imatinib treatment, re-introduction of imatinib after a hypersensitivity reaction should be considered.CASE: Here we present a case report of a 68-year-old patient with a GIST diagnosis who was re-introduced to imatinib after a type IV hypersensitivity reaction via desensitization. A desensitization plan, a plan for formulation of low-dose imatinib capsules, and the essential steps when considering desensitization are discussed.CONCLUSION: Our case of a patient with a type IV hypersensitivity reaction after starting imatinib treatment demonstrates that desensitization is a feasible option after serious cutaneous adverse events in specific cases, when done with good interdisciplinary collaboration and clinical management.

KW - Aged

KW - Antineoplastic Agents/adverse effects

KW - Desensitization, Immunologic/methods

KW - Drug Hypersensitivity/etiology

KW - Gastrointestinal Neoplasms/drug therapy

KW - Gastrointestinal Stromal Tumors/drug therapy

KW - Humans

KW - Imatinib Mesylate/adverse effects

KW - Male

KW - Protein Kinase Inhibitors/adverse effects

U2 - 10.1002/cnr2.70238

DO - 10.1002/cnr2.70238

M3 - Article

C2 - 40498648

SN - 2573-8348

VL - 8

JO - Cancer reports (Hoboken, N.J.)

JF - Cancer reports (Hoboken, N.J.)

IS - 6

M1 - e70238

ER -

Imatinib Desensitization After a Type IV Hypersensitivity Reaction in a Gastrointestinal Stromal Tumor Patient-A Case Report

Abstract

Keywords

Access to Document

Fingerprint

Cite this