title: [Gastrointestinal stromal tumors (GIST). Clinical characteristics, diagnosis, and therapy in five cases].
abstract: Gastrointestinal stromal tumors (GIST) are rare causes of gastrointestinal bleeding. In most cases these tumors are localized in the stomach and small intestine, more rarely in the esophagus and colon.Pluripotent mesenchymal cells are the suspected origin of GIST. The pathogenesis is obviously initiated by gene mutations, leading to an overexpression and activation of tyrosine kinase proteins. This activation is followed by uncontrolled proliferation and loss of apoptosis. The immunohistochemical detection of the protein CD 117 (c-kit) is an important diagnostic tool. Activating c-kit mutations are observed in most cases of GIST. Grading of GIST remains a problem. Size and mitotic rate are the most powerful predictive factors associated with malignant behavior. The most common symptoms of GIST are pain and gastrointestinal bleeding. Endoscopy, sonography, scintigraphy or radiology -- enteroclysma, computed tomography (CT) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) -- are possible methods to detect a GIST. Surgical resection is the standard therapy of GIST. In cases of metastatic GIST, systemic therapy with imatinib, a tyrosine kinase inhibitor, frequently leads to partial remission and clinical improvement. Only few side effects are described. Five patients with GIST are reported. In all cases gastrointestinal bleeding was the main symptom. All tumors were surgically resected, and no signs of recurrence or metastasis have been observed in any of the patients so far (19-51 months postoperatively).
authors.affiliation: II. Medizinische Klinik, St. Franziskus-Hospital, Münster. ludolph@muenster.de
authors.forename: Thomas
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Ludolph
authors.forename: Axel
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Schweitzer
authors.forename: Anne
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Bremer
authors.forename: Uwe
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Schulz
authors.forename: Bernhard
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Glasbrenner
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001549:Benzamides; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006471:Gastrointestinal Hemorrhage / Q000209:etiology; D046152:Gastrointestinal Stromal Tumors / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000235:genetics / Q000601:surgery; D006801:Humans; D000068877:Imatinib Mesylate; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009154:Mutation; D010879:Piperazines / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use; D011379:Prognosis; D011505:Protein-Tyrosine Kinases / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use; D019009:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-kit / Q000235:genetics; D011743:Pyrimidines / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use; D011877:Radionuclide Imaging; D013997:Time Factors; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014463:Ultrasonography
chemical_list: D001549:Benzamides; D010879:Piperazines; D011743:Pyrimidines; D000068877:Imatinib Mesylate; D011505:Protein-Tyrosine Kinases; D019009:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-kit