[Management of gastrointestinal stromal tumors]

MANAGEMENT OF GASTROINTESTINAL STROMAL TUMORS. Gastrointestinal stromal tumors (GIST) are the most frequent sarcoma subtype. More than 80% of GIST are characterized by activating mutations in KIT or PDGFRA genes, but rare molecular subtypes exist. Localized GIST can be cured by surgery. Adjuvant treatment with imatinib is the gold standard in high-risk GIST presenting mutations sensitive to this tyrosine kinase inhibitor. The development of tyrosine kinase inhibitors targeting KIT and PDGFRA has revolutionized the prognosis of metastatic GIST, by increasing the median overall survival: from less than 18 months to more than 70 months within 20 years. Similary to other histological subtypes, the diagnostic and therapeutic management of GIST must be referred to sarcoma reference centers.