title: [Surgery on gastrountestinal stromal tumor CD117+ (G.I.S.T.): personal experience].
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Gastrointestinal stromal tumors are the most frequent (0,5-3%) mesenchymal tumors in the gastrointestinal tract. They probably originate from the interstitial cells of Cajal and are characterized by an anomaly of c-kit receptor, for a stem growth factor, with tyrosine-kinase activity (c-kit). This mutation causes a permanent activation of the receptor and uncontrolled cell growth. These tumors are associated with low survival in cases of advanced or metastatic disease. Imatinib, a tyrosine kinase inhibitor, induces improved survival in these patients.
  
  
  METHODS
  The authors discuss two cases of gastrointestinal stromal tumors surgically treated and also review the pathophysiology, diagnosis difficulties, role of surgery today, and treatment-related outcome of this type of tumors.
authors.affiliation: U.O. di Chirurgia Apparato Digerente, Azienda Policlinico Catania, Università degli Studi di Catania. andreacavallaro76@tin.it
authors.forename: Andrea
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Cavallaro
authors.forename: Andrea
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Lauretta
authors.forename: Marco
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Cavallaro
authors.forename: Salvatore
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Pennisi
authors.forename: Vincenzo
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Cavallaro
mesh_terms: D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001549:Benzamides; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor; D005260:Female; D046152:Gastrointestinal Stromal Tumors / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000235:genetics / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery*; D006801:Humans; D000068877:Imatinib Mesylate; D016130:Immunophenotyping; D008875:Middle Aged; D009154:Mutation; D010879:Piperazines / Q000627:therapeutic use; D047428:Protein Kinase Inhibitors / Q000627:therapeutic use; D019009:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-kit / Q000235:genetics; D011743:Pyrimidines / Q000627:therapeutic use; D011860:Radiography, Abdominal; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed
chemical_list: D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; D001549:Benzamides; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor; D010879:Piperazines; D047428:Protein Kinase Inhibitors; D011743:Pyrimidines; D000068877:Imatinib Mesylate; D019009:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-kit