06-05-2016 | Gastrointestinal stromal tumors | Article
11. Gastrointestinal Stromal Tumours
Publisher: Springer International Publishing
Abstract
Gastrointestinal stromal tumours (GISTs) are the most common mesenchymal neoplasms of the gastrointestinal tract. These tumours result from activating mutations in the KIT (CD117) proto-oncogene or platelet-derived growth factor receptor alpha gene (PDGFRAa). They can arise in any location throughout the gastrointestinal tract but are found primarily in the stomach (60 %) and small intestine (30 %). Surgical resection is the cornerstone of management for localized, non-metastatic GISTs and remains the only curative primary treatment. Despite undergoing complete resection, however, at least 50 % of patients develop tumour recurrence within 18–24 months with an associated 5-year overall survival rate of ~50 %. The development of the tyrosine kinase inhibitor Imatinib mesylate has led to improvements in recurrence-free survival and overall survival in select patients following surgical resection.