Gastrointestinal stromal tumours (GIST): biology and treatment

Gastrointestinal stromal tumours (GIST)

The radiology of gastrointestinal stromal tumours (GIST)

Gastrointestinal stromal tumours (GISTs) comprise a group of smooth muscle mesenchymal alimentary tract tumours of variable malignancy. Recently, the pathophysiology and radiology of these tumours has generated enormous interest following the discovery of a specific, highly effective, chemotherapeutic agent in the form of ST-571 (Imatinib; Glivec, Novartis, Frimley UK). At the time of this revi...

An overview on molecular biology of KIT/PDGFRA wild type (WT) gastrointestinal stromal tumours (GIST).

BACKGROUND About 85% of paediatric gastrointestinal stromal tumours (GISTs) and about 10-15% of adult GISTs do not harbour any mutations in the KIT and PDGFRA genes and are defined as KIT/PDGFRA wild type (WT). Over the years it has been demonstrated that KIT/PDGFRA WT GISTs are profoundly different from mutant GIST in clinical and molecular profiles, so that they are now considered a separate ...

Imatinib treatment for gastrointestinal stromal tumour (GIST)

Gastrointestinal stromal tumour (GIST) is the most common mesenchymal neoplasm of the gastrointestinal tract. GISTs are believed to originate from intersticial cells of Cajal (the pacemaker cells of the gastrointestinal tract) or related stem cells, and are characterized by KIT or platelet-derived growth factor receptor alpha (PDGFRA) activating mutations. The use of imatinib has revolutionized...

Gastrointestinal stromal tumors (GIST): new treatment expectations.

Gastrointestinal stromal tumors (GIST) have been known for over twenty years, but until ten years ago they were a heterogeneous group of neoplasms which included leiomyomas, leiomyosarcomas, leiomyoblastomas and schwannomas. They represent approximately 0.5-3 % of all primary tumors of the gastrointestinal tract, only 5 % of visceral sarcomas, but 80 % of malignant tumors originated in the mese...