title: Clinical Observations on Treatment for Chinese Patients with Gastrointestinal Stromal Tumors.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  To investigate the diagnostic and treatment methods for Chinese patients with gastrointestinal stromal tumor (GIST).
  
  
  METHODS
  From January 2004 to June 2014, patients diagnosed with primary GIST and treated by a single medical team in the Department of Digestive Disease of XuYi Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine were retrospectively recruited. Re-examination and follow-up was conducted regularly and abdominal enhanced CT, blood biochemistry and responses to surgery or imatinib were recorded.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A total of 15 patients were enrolled, including 9 male and 6 female patients, with an average age of 54 years (ranging from 32-81 years). The primary symptoms were abdominal uncomfortable in 5 patients, abdominal pain in 6 patients as well as nausea and vomiting in 4 patients. One patient was diagnosed with bowl obstruction at the first visit. All patients were treated with surgery, and tumor site was confirmed 1 esophagus, 6 stomach, 4 small bowel, and 4 colorectal and all patients were pathologically diagnosed with GIST. Immunochemical test positive for CD 117 was found 12 patients, and positive for CD 34 in7 patients. The median follow-up time was 24 months (range of 3-63). Three metastasis were confirmed 1.5, 2 and 2.6 years postoperatively. Three patients were treatment by imatinib postoperatively.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Surgery remains the main treatment method for Chinese patients with GIST and imatinib could be feasible and safe for treating Chinese patients with GIST.
authors.affiliation: Department of Digestive Disease, XuYi Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Jiangsu, China E-mail : huangxinen06@126.com.
authors.forename: Zhan-De
authors.initials: ZD
authors.lastname: He
authors.forename: Xin-En
authors.initials: XE
authors.lastname: Huang
authors.forename: Jian-Nong
authors.initials: JN
authors.lastname: Zhou
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D003131:Combined Modality Therapy; D013505:Digestive System Surgical Procedures; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D046152:Gastrointestinal Stromal Tumors / Q000473:pathology* / Q000628:therapy*; D006801:Humans; D000068877:Imatinib Mesylate / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D060787:Neoplasm Grading; D009362:Neoplasm Metastasis; D009364:Neoplasm Recurrence, Local / Q000473:pathology* / Q000628:therapy*; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D011300:Preoperative Care; D011379:Prognosis; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D015996:Survival Rate
chemical_list: D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; D000068877:Imatinib Mesylate