title: Gastrointestinal stromal tumors (GIST): Facing cell death between autophagy and apoptosis.
abstract: Autophagy and apoptosis are 2 fundamental biological mechanisms that may cooperate or be antagonistic, although both are involved in deciding the fate of cells in physiological or pathological conditions. These 2 mechanisms coexist simultaneously in cells and share common upstream signals and stimuli. Autophagy and apoptosis play pivotal roles in cancer development. Autophagy plays a key function in maintaining tumor cell survival by providing energy during unfavorable metabolic conditions through its recycling mechanism, and supporting the high energy requirement for metabolism and growth. This review focuses on gastrointestinal stromal tumors and cell death through autophagy and apoptosis, taking into account the involvement of both of these processes in tumor development and growth and as mechanisms of drug resistance. We also focus on the crosstalk between autophagy and apoptosis as an emerging field with major implications for the development of novel therapeutic options.
authors.affiliation: a Department of Pharmacy and Biotechnology , University of Bologna , Bologna Italy.
authors.forename: Gloria
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Ravegnini
authors.affiliation: a Department of Pharmacy and Biotechnology , University of Bologna , Bologna Italy.
authors.forename: Giulia
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Sammarini
authors.affiliation: b Department of Specialized , Experimental and Diagnostic Medicine, Sant'Orsola-Malpighi Hospital, University of Bologna , Bologna , Italy.
authors.forename: Margherita
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Nannini
authors.affiliation: b Department of Specialized , Experimental and Diagnostic Medicine, Sant'Orsola-Malpighi Hospital, University of Bologna , Bologna , Italy.|c "Giorgio Prodi" Cancer Research Center, University of Bologna , Bologna , Italy.
authors.forename: Maria A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Pantaleo
authors.affiliation: b Department of Specialized , Experimental and Diagnostic Medicine, Sant'Orsola-Malpighi Hospital, University of Bologna , Bologna , Italy.|c "Giorgio Prodi" Cancer Research Center, University of Bologna , Bologna , Italy.
authors.forename: Guido
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Biasco
authors.affiliation: a Department of Pharmacy and Biotechnology , University of Bologna , Bologna Italy.
authors.forename: Patrizia
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Hrelia
authors.affiliation: a Department of Pharmacy and Biotechnology , University of Bologna , Bologna Italy.
authors.forename: Sabrina
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Angelini
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D017209:Apoptosis / Q000235:genetics; D001343:Autophagy / Q000235:genetics; D005770:Gastrointestinal Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000235:genetics / Q000473:pathology*; D046152:Gastrointestinal Stromal Tumors / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000235:genetics / Q000473:pathology*; D006801:Humans; D008954:Models, Biological; D015398:Signal Transduction / Q000235:genetics
keywords: GIST; apoptosis; autophagy; imatinib; miRNA