Hope as a Lifeline: Imatinib Discontinuation in Patients With Oligometastatic Gastrointestinal Stromal Tumours

Abstract

Background/Aim: This study explored how highly selected oligometastatic gastrointestinal stromal tumour (GIST) patients subjectively experienced the discontinuation of imatinib (IM) treatment. Patients and Methods: Being an exploratory qualitative study, we applied a phenomenological and hermeneutical approach. We conducted in-depth semi-structured interviews with nine oligometastatic GIST patients who were in long-term clinical remission. The gathered data were interpreted using a thematic analysis. Results: The analysis of the interview data revealed four main themes; getting one’s life back, fear of recurrence, hope as a lifeline and the pros/cons of participating in this clinical trial. The participants disclosed that hope of being cancer free and without the side-effects of IM was essential for both participating in this study and enduring the uncertainty of drug discontinuation. Conclusion: Use of a qualitative approach in clinical trials can result in a better understanding of patients’ perspectives and therefore lead to improved clinical practice.