# Imatinib in advanced dermatofibrosarcoma protuberans: pooled analysis of two phase 2 trials (EORTC 62027 and SWOG S0345)

Source: https://onco.cc/key-papers/paper-imatinib-dfsp-eortc-swog-rutkowski-jco-2010/  
OnCo record `paper-imatinib-dfsp-eortc-swog-rutkowski-jco-2010` (Key paper). Data CC BY-NC 4.0, attribute "Data from OnCo (onco.cc)"; commercial use needs a licence.

## TL;DR

Pooling two trials, imatinib shrank tumours in about half of patients with locally advanced or metastatic dermatofibrosarcoma protuberans, confirming that blocking the PDGF receptor works in this fusion-driven sarcoma.

## Summary

Pooled analysis of 24 patients with locally advanced or metastatic dermatofibrosarcoma protuberans treated with imatinib in the EORTC 62027 (800 mg) and SWOG S0345 (400 mg) phase 2 trials, both closed early for slow accrual.

Objective response was 46 percent, with median time to progression of 1.7 years, and responses were similar at both doses; tumours with fibrosarcomatous transformation also responded.

## Fields

- Kind: Key paper
- Last checked: 2026-09-17
- Journal: Journal of Clinical Oncology
- Year: 2010
- DOI: 10.1200/JCO.2009.25.7899
- Authors: Rutkowski P, Van Glabbeke M, Rankin CJ, et al.
- Findings: Objective response 46 percent.; Median time to progression 1.7 years; no dose-response difference between 400 and 800 mg.
- What it means: Imatinib is the standard systemic treatment for unresectable, recurrent or metastatic dermatofibrosarcoma protuberans and is used neoadjuvantly to shrink large tumours before surgery.
- Caveats: Small pooled cohort from two prematurely closed trials.

## Sources

- J Clin Oncol 2010: https://doi.org/10.1200/JCO.2009.25.7899
- PubMed: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/20194851/

## Connected records

- cancers: [Dermatofibrosarcoma protuberans](https://onco.cc/cancers/dermatofibrosarcoma-protuberans/)
- drugs: [Imatinib](https://onco.cc/drugs/imatinib/)
- journals: [Journal of Clinical Oncology](https://onco.cc/journals/jco/)

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