CCBE1 promotes GIST development through enhancing angiogenesis and mediating resistance to imatinib

Gastrointestinal stromal tumor (GIST) is the most major mesenchymal neoplasm of the digestive tract. Up to now, imatinib mesylate has been used as a standard first-line treatment for irresectable and metastasized GIST patients or adjuvant treatment for advanced GIST patients who received surgical resection. However, secondary resistance to imatinib usually happens, resulting in a major obstacle in GIST successful therapy. In this study, we first found that collagen and calcium binding EGF domains 1 (CCBE1) expression gradually elevated along with the risk degree of NIH classification, and poor prognosis emerged in the CCBE1-positive patients. In vitro experiments showed that recombinant CCBE1 protein can enhance angiogenesis and neutralize partial effect of imatinib on the GIST-T1 cells. In conclusion, these data indicated that CCBE1 may be served as a new predictor of prognosis in post-operative GIST patients and may play an important role in stimulating GIST progression.