Management of Gastrointestinal Stromal Tumour: Current Practices and Visions for the Future

Abstract

Gastrointestinal stromal tumour (GIST), while relatively rare, is the most common mesenchymal tumour of the gastrointestinal tract. These tumours are largely resistant to cytotoxic chemotherapy and, in the past, were typically managed surgically. However, as a result of the identification of activating mutations in the proto-oncogene KIT and the development of compounds that inhibit the KIT receptor tyrosine kinase, GISTs have, in the last 14 years, become the archetype of a targeted agent-responsive tumour. Due to the almost continual emergence of new data from clinical trials and other studies on GIST diagnosis and treatment, the management of this disease requires regular review. The 2013 ArcheoloGIST summit was convened in Prague, Czech Republic. Interaction between attending physicians and the expert faculty was a core component of the summit. The current article is based on discussions held during two interactive sessions at ArcheoloGIST 2013 in which the authors aimed to: (1) reach a consensus on the current management of GIST and (2) provide a vision for the future diagnosis and treatment of this disease.