title: Prognostic factors and outcome of resected patients for gastrointestinal stromal tumors.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The aim of this study was to analyze the outcome of 33 patients with primary gastrointestinal stromal tumors (GISTs) who were observed and treated in a single teaching hospital and followed up prospectively.
  
  
  METHODS
  Thirty-three GISTs patients (21 male; 12 female; mean age: 57 +/- 12 years; range: 23-76 years) between June 1994 and October 2004, were reviewed retrospectively. Patient, tumor, and treatment variables were analyzed to identify patterns of tumor relapse and factors affecting survival.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Of 33 patients, 30 patients (91%) had primary tumor without metastasis, and all of them underwent complete surgical resection of gross disease. Three patients (9%) had metastasis. Among patients radically resected, the 5-year actuarial survival rate was 85%, and the disease-free survival was 76%. Among patients resected for cure, there were 6 recurrences. The mean time to recurrence was 22 +/- 11 months (range: 4-36 months), and liver was the prevalent site for relapsing disease (n = 5; 83%). After recurrence, survival at 2 and 3 years was 44% and 0%, respectively.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  GISTs are uncommon sarcomas. Tumor recurrence tends to be intra-abdominal. Investigational protocols are indicated to reduce the rate of recurrence after resection and to improve the outcome for patients with GIST.
authors.affiliation: Department of General Surgery, European Institute of Oncology, University of Milano, Via G. Ripamonti, 4320141 Milano, Italy. antonio.chiappa@unimi.it
authors.forename: Antonio
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Chiappa
authors.forename: Andrew P
authors.initials: AP
authors.lastname: Zbar
authors.forename: Roberto
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Biffi
authors.forename: Emilio
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Bertani
authors.forename: Ugo
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Pace
authors.forename: Giancarlo
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Pruneri
authors.forename: Paolo
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Della Vigna
authors.forename: Carmine
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Grassi
authors.forename: Manlio
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Valerio
authors.forename: Davide
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Poldi
authors.forename: Bruno
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Andreoni
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D018572:Disease-Free Survival; D005260:Female; D046152:Gastrointestinal Stromal Tumors / Q000401:mortality* / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009364:Neoplasm Recurrence, Local / Q000401:mortality; D011379:Prognosis; D012509:Sarcoma / Q000401:mortality* / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery*; D016896:Treatment Outcome