title: Current status of immunotherapy for gastrointestinal stromal tumor.
abstract: Gastrointestinal stromal tumors (GIST) contain tumor-infiltrating immune cells and their presence provides an opportunity and rationale for developing effective forms of immunotherapy. The types of tumor-infiltrating inflammatory cells and relevant immune checkpoint inhibitors are the focus of active investigation. The most numerous tumor-infiltrating inflammatory cells are tumor-associated macrophages (TAMs) and CD3+ T cells. Studies have shown that patients with GISTs that harbor increased numbers of CD3+ T cells have better outcomes. However, the clinical behavior of GIST has not been shown to correlate with the number of TAMs. The biological significance of other less frequent tumor-infiltrating immune cells including tumor-infiltrating neurtrophils (TINs), natural killer cells (NKs), B cells, dendritic cells (DCs) remains unclear. The immune checkpoint inhibitors CTLA-4, PD1/PDL1 and TIM3/galectin-9 are molecules that can be targeted by synthesized antibodies. Clinical and pre-clinical trials using this approach against immune checkpoint inhibitors, anti-KIT antibody and the generation of chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T-cells have shown promising results. The treatment of GIST with immunotherapy is complex and evolving; this article reviews its current status for patients with GISTs.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathology, University of Miami, Miller School of Medicine, Jackson Memorial Hospital, and University of Miami Hospital, Miami, Florida, USA.
authors.forename: Y
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Tan
authors.affiliation: Department of Hematology/Oncology, University of Miami, Miller School of Medicine, Jackson Memorial Hospital, and University of Miami Hospital, Miami, Florida, USA.|Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of Miami, Miller School of Medicine, Miami, Florida, USA.
authors.forename: J C
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Trent
authors.affiliation: Department of Hematology/Oncology, University of Miami, Miller School of Medicine, Jackson Memorial Hospital, and University of Miami Hospital, Miami, Florida, USA.|Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of Miami, Miller School of Medicine, Miami, Florida, USA.
authors.forename: B A
authors.initials: BA
authors.lastname: Wilky
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathology, University of Miami, Miller School of Medicine, Jackson Memorial Hospital, and University of Miami Hospital, Miami, Florida, USA.|Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of Miami, Miller School of Medicine, Miami, Florida, USA.
authors.forename: D A
authors.initials: DA
authors.lastname: Kerr
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathology, University of Miami, Miller School of Medicine, Jackson Memorial Hospital, and University of Miami Hospital, Miami, Florida, USA.|Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of Miami, Miller School of Medicine, Miami, Florida, USA.
authors.forename: A E
authors.initials: AE
authors.lastname: Rosenberg
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000074322:Antineoplastic Agents, Immunological / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor; D019496:Cancer Vaccines / Q000627:therapeutic use; D064987:Cell- and Tissue-Based Therapy / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000379:methods; D003131:Combined Modality Therapy; D016207:Cytokines / Q000378:metabolism / Q000627:therapeutic use; D046152:Gastrointestinal Stromal Tumors / Q000276:immunology* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology / Q000628:therapy*; D006801:Humans; D007107:Immune System / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism; D056747:Immunomodulation / Q000187:drug effects; D007167:Immunotherapy / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000379:methods; D016246:Lymphocytes, Tumor-Infiltrating / Q000187:drug effects / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D058990:Molecular Targeted Therapy; D059016:Tumor Microenvironment / Q000276:immunology
chemical_list: D000074322:Antineoplastic Agents, Immunological; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor; D019496:Cancer Vaccines; D016207:Cytokines