title: [Gastrointestinal stromal tumors (GIST)--a paradigm of successful targeted therapy of solid tumors].
abstract: Gastrointestinal stromal tumors (GIST) have attracted basic scientists as well as clinicians in the last 10 years. The reason for this is explanation of the pathogenetic mechanism of tumor growth by activation of c-Kit protein, followed by a rationally designed suppressor, a drug named imatinib. It is the first successful therapy for solid tumors to date, although there are other ongoing studies of agents with targeted action on different molecules in different tumors. In 80% of patients there is a clinical benefit from imatinib trreatment. GIST shows great diversity in clinical presentation and some questions still remain, such as malignant potential and prognostic criteria in these tumors. Imatinib therapy demonstrates many favorable effects such as acceptable toxicity and relative mild side effects, excellent quality of life, good patient compliance, etc. There are ongoing trials of new agents designated for target molecules, which would hopefully show benefit after developing resistance to imatinib.
authors.affiliation: Zavod za internisticku onkologiju, Klinika za otnkologiju, Zagreb, Hrvatska.
authors.forename: Borislav
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Belev
authors.forename: Damir
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Vrbanec
authors.forename: Marko
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Kralik
authors.forename: Stjepko
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Plestina
authors.forename: Branka
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Petricević
authors.forename: Maja
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Sirotković-Skerlev
mesh_terms: D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001549:Benzamides; D046152:Gastrointestinal Stromal Tumors / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000473:pathology / Q000628:therapy*; D006801:Humans; D000068877:Imatinib Mesylate; D010879:Piperazines / Q000627:therapeutic use; D047428:Protein Kinase Inhibitors / Q000627:therapeutic use; D011743:Pyrimidines / Q000627:therapeutic use
chemical_list: D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; D001549:Benzamides; D010879:Piperazines; D047428:Protein Kinase Inhibitors; D011743:Pyrimidines; D000068877:Imatinib Mesylate