This study is aimed to investigate the efficacy of imatinib (Glivec) in the treatment of primary and locally relapsed dermatofibrosarcoma protuberans (DFSP). DFSP is a cutaneous neoplasm well known for its overexpression of the platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF). Herein, imatinib provides a systemic treatment option that offers the possibility of a reduction of the wide surgical margins used today in surgery of primary DFSP, or even of a complete avoidance of surgical treatment in this disease. Since imatinib exerts its function via interference with protein tyrosine kinase activities, it inhibits the platelet-derived growth factor receptor (PDGF-R) signaling cascade that plays a crucial role in the pathogenesis and tumor growth of DFSP. Since imatinib has been shown to shrink metastatic lesions of DFSP, there is a strong rationale to expect that it also decreases cell proliferation and tumor growth in primary DFSP.
The purpose of this study is to determine whether imatinib is effective in the treatment of primary and recurrent dermatofibrosarcoma protuberans (DFSP).