Knowns and Known Unknowns of Gastrointestinal Stromal Tumor Adjuvant Therapy

Gastroenterol Clin North Am. 2016 Sep;45(3):477-86. doi: 10.1016/j.gtc.2016.04.006.

Abstract

The first 15 years of management of gastrointestinal stromal tumor (GIST) have led to 3 lines of therapy for metastatic disease: imatinib, sunitinib, and regorafenib. In the adjuvant setting, imatinib is usually given for 3 years postoperatively to patients with higher-risk primary tumors that are completely resected. In this review, issues regarding GIST adjuvant therapy are discussed. It is hoped this review will help the reader understand the present standard of care to improve upon it in years to come.

Keywords: Adjuvant therapy; Gastrointestinal stromal tumor (GIST); Imatinib; KIT mutation; PDGFRA mutation.

Publication types

  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Antineoplastic Agents / therapeutic use*
  • Chemotherapy, Adjuvant*
  • Digestive System Surgical Procedures*
  • Gastrointestinal Neoplasms / drug therapy*
  • Gastrointestinal Neoplasms / genetics
  • Gastrointestinal Stromal Tumors / drug therapy*
  • Gastrointestinal Stromal Tumors / genetics
  • Humans
  • Imatinib Mesylate / therapeutic use*
  • Indoles / therapeutic use
  • Mutation
  • Neoadjuvant Therapy*
  • Phenylurea Compounds / therapeutic use
  • Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-kit / genetics
  • Pyridines / therapeutic use
  • Pyrroles / therapeutic use
  • Receptor, Platelet-Derived Growth Factor alpha / genetics
  • Sunitinib

Substances

  • Antineoplastic Agents
  • Indoles
  • Phenylurea Compounds
  • Pyridines
  • Pyrroles
  • regorafenib
  • Imatinib Mesylate
  • Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-kit
  • Receptor, Platelet-Derived Growth Factor alpha
  • Sunitinib