Last fall, when patients began clamoring for the drug and the National Cancer Institute learned of Gleevec's early successes, the federal agency convened an emergency meeting to start a larger trial. That study is being conducted by cancer research groups at scores of hospitals across the country and has enrolled nearly half the goal of 600 patients, Dr. Blanke said. Gleevec, formerly known as STI- 571, is made by Novartis. It is a new kind of drug that acts like a guided missile, killing only cancerous cells while generally sparing healthy ones. That any drug can have such striking benefits against two seemingly different cancers has surprised even the most optimistic researchers who have long been hailing the potential for what are called molecularly targeted drugs.
Solid tumors are generally much harder to treat.
The only other treatment for GIST, surgery, is palliative, and patients often undergo more than one operation. One participant had 10 such operations before starting to use Gleevec. The tumors develop in the connective tissue, or stroma, of the intestines, and can occur anywhere in the digestive system from the esophagus through the large bowel. The National Cancer Institute plans to sponsor tests of Gleevec against other forms of cancer. Privacy Information Stay connected to the news that interests you with free e-mail alerts from The New York Times.