title: Gastrointestinal stromal tumors.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The gastrointestinal stromal tumor (GIST) is the most common mesenchymal tumor of the intestinal tract, known to be refractory to conventional chemotherapy or radiation. Its pathogenesis is defined by mutations within the KIT and PDGFRA gene, which constitutively activate KIT and PDGFRA oncoproteins, and serve as crucial diagnostic and therapeutic targets.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Besides surgery, therapy with imatinib mesylate, which inhibits KIT kinase activity, represents the other cornerstone for the treatment of GIST. Still, the only curative option for GIST is given after complete surgical removal even in a metastatic setting, but recurrence is common, and the risk can be defined by surgical factors like incomplete resection, intraperitoneal rupture, or bleeding and tumor associated factors like tumor size, mitotic index, or localization.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Consequently, adjuvant therapy with imatinib mesylate or other tyrosine kinase inhibitors is recommended for high-risk patients after complete resection. For unresectable and advanced GIST, a partial response or stable disease can be achieved in about 80% of patients with imatinib mesylate.
authors: Department of Surgery, University of Göttingen, Robert Koch Str. 42, 37075, Göttingen, Germany.
authors: Alexander W
authors: AW
authors: Beham
authors: Inga-Marie
authors: IM
authors: Schaefer
authors: Philipp
authors: P
authors: Schüler
authors: Silke
authors: S
authors: Cameron
authors: B Michael
authors: BM
authors: Ghadimi
mesh_terms: D001483:Base Sequence; D004252:DNA Mutational Analysis; D046152:Gastrointestinal Stromal Tumors / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000235:genetics / Q000473:pathology*; D006801:Humans; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D011379:Prognosis