title: Gastrointestinal stromal tumor: a clinical overview.
abstract: Gastrointestinal stromal tumor (GIST) is a disease that was poorly understood historically. In the last decade, it has undergone a major transformation, sparked by the landmark discovery of the central role of activating KIT mutations in its pathogenesis and recognition of KIT protein expression (CD 117) as a reliable diagnostic marker of disease. The introduction and subsequent US Food and Drug administration approval of imatinib mesylate in the treatment of metastatic or unresectable GIST in February 1, 2002 has thrust this hitherto little known disease into the center stage of oncology, and GIST has served as a model for rationally designed drug trials in the field of cancer therapeutics since.
authors.affiliation: Center for Sarcoma and Bone Oncology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, 44 Binney Street, Boston, MA 02115, USA.
authors.forename: Richard
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Quek
authors.forename: Suzanne
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: George
mesh_terms: D001549:Benzamides; D013505:Digestive System Surgical Procedures; D005192:Family Health; D046152:Gastrointestinal Stromal Tumors / Q000235:genetics / Q000473:pathology / Q000628:therapy; D006801:Humans; D000068877:Imatinib Mesylate; D010879:Piperazines; D047428:Protein Kinase Inhibitors / Q000627:therapeutic use; D019009:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-kit / Q000032:analysis / Q000235:genetics; D011743:Pyrimidines
chemical_list: D001549:Benzamides; D010879:Piperazines; D047428:Protein Kinase Inhibitors; D011743:Pyrimidines; D000068877:Imatinib Mesylate; D019009:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-kit