Onkológia 3/2011

Gastrointestinal stromal tumors (GISTs)

Gastrointestinal stromal tumors (GISTs) represent a rare tumor entity that occurs in the muscular layer of the digestive tract. Imatinib is considered the standard first – line systemic treatment for patients with advanced GISTs. The interrupting imatinib is associated with a high risk of rapid disease progression. Molecular pathology data show that certain mutations in the KIT proto-oncogene put patients at an increased risk for metastases and such tumors show a poor or no response to imatinib. Effective second – line or third – line therapy become available.

Keywords: Gastrointestinal stromal tumors, imatinib, mutations in proto – oncogene.