Gastrointestinal Stromal Tumors (GISTs): Novel Therapeutic Strategies with Immunotherapy and Small Molecules.

ABSTRACT: Gastrointestinal stromal tumors (GISTs) are the most common types of malignant mesenchymal tumors in the gastrointestinal tract, with an estimated incidence of 1.5/100.000 per year and 1-2% of gastrointestinal neoplasms. About 75-80% of patients have mutations in the KIT gene in exons 9, 11, 13, 14, 17, and 5-10% of patients have mutations in the platelet-derived growth factor receptor a (PDGFRA) gene in exons 12, 14, 18. Moreover, 10-15% of patients have no mutations and are classified as wild type GIST. The treatment for metastatic or unresectable GISTs includes imatinib, sunitinib, and regorafenib. So far, GIST therapies have raised great expectations and offered patients a better quality of life, but increased pharmacological resistance to tyrosine kinase inhibitors is often observed.

SUBMITTER: Vallilas C 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC7825300 | biostudies-literature | 2021 Jan

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature