# Imatinib for melanomas harbouring mutationally activated or amplified KIT arising on mucosal, acral and chronically sun-damaged skin

Source: https://onco.cc/key-papers/paper-hodi-imatinib-kit-melanoma-jco-2013/  
OnCo record `paper-hodi-imatinib-kit-melanoma-jco-2013` (Key paper). Data CC BY-NC 4.0, attribute "Data from OnCo (onco.cc)"; commercial use needs a licence.

## TL;DR

Imatinib shrank tumours in about a third of patients with melanoma carrying KIT mutations, but only in those with mutations in specific exons, defining a small targetable subgroup among mucosal and acral melanomas.

## Summary

Phase 2 study of 25 patients with advanced melanoma with KIT mutations or amplification arising on mucosal, acral or chronically sun-damaged skin treated with imatinib.

Overall response was 29 percent, with durable responses confined to tumours with KIT mutations in exons 11 and 13 (particularly L576P and K642E), and none in tumours with KIT amplification alone; median time to progression was 3.7 months overall.

## Fields

- Kind: Key paper
- Last checked: 2026-09-17
- Journal: Journal of Clinical Oncology
- Year: 2013
- DOI: 10.1200/JCO.2012.47.7836
- Authors: Hodi FS, Corless CL, Giobbie-Hurder A, et al.
- Findings: Objective response 29 percent overall; responses limited to exon 11 and 13 mutations.; No responses with KIT amplification without mutation.
- What it means: KIT testing is worthwhile in mucosal and acral melanoma, and imatinib is a guideline option for exon 11 or 13 mutations after or alongside immunotherapy.
- Caveats: Small study; KIT mutations occur in under 15 percent of mucosal and acral melanomas.

## Sources

- J Clin Oncol 2013: https://doi.org/10.1200/JCO.2012.47.7836
- PubMed: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/23775962/

## Connected records

- cancers: [Acral melanoma](https://onco.cc/cancers/acral-melanoma/), [Mucosal melanoma](https://onco.cc/cancers/mucosal-melanoma/)
- drugs: [Imatinib](https://onco.cc/drugs/imatinib/)
- journals: [Journal of Clinical Oncology](https://onco.cc/journals/jco/)

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