Clinical and therapeutic considerations of GIST

Gastrointestinal stromal tumors (GIST) are rare tumors of the digestive tract, with an incidence of about 1.5 per 100,000/year. Clinical features may vary depending on location, size and aggressiveness. The diagnosis is confirmed by immunohistochemistry tests that identify CD 117 or DOG1 (typical receptors/markers for most GISTs) at the level of biopsy specimen. The treatment of localized GIST is based primarily on the surgery, while for metastatic GIST the targeted therapy with tyrosine kinase inhibitors represents the current standard. The neoadjuvant and adjuvant therapy indications guided and depending on genetic analysis included in the diagnostic and treatment algorithm as well as the strategy for cases surveillance are listed in the journal. All these data obtained from the literature have been integrated in a practical experience of 19 cases of GIST, operated in the clinic in the last 10 years for which we have proposed an adapted diagnostic algorithm.