@article{3118096,
    title = "Gastrointestinal stromal tumours: Clinical overview, surgery and recent
advances in imatinib mesylate therapy",
    author = "Samelis, G. F. and Ekmektzoglou, K. A. and Zografos, G. C.",
    journal = "EJSO",
    year = "2007",
    volume = "33",
    number = "8",
    pages = "942-950",
    publisher = "Elsevier Sci Ltd, Exeter, United Kingdom",
    doi = "10.1016/j.ejso.2006.11.025",
    keywords = "gastrointestinal stromal tumour; GIST; surgery; imatinib",
    abstract = "Airns: To review the clinical features of gastrointestinal stromal
tumours (GISTs), the role of surgery and its principles and molecular
targeted therapies.
Methods: A Medline-based literature search on relevant topics was
performed in PubMed for key articles concerning the clinical features,
biology and the novel strategies in the management, whether surgical
and/or pharmaceutical, of gastrointestinal stromal tumours. Some
information was obtained from Proceedings of the American Society for
Clinical Oncology published recently.
Results: Surgical resection, the first-line intervention for operable
GISTs, was historically the only effective treatment. For residual,
metastatic and/or inoperable disease, treatment options remain under
intense and continuous scrutiny. However, their molecular genetics, i.e.
the mutations of the genes coding for KIT or platelet-derived growth
factor receptor or,, two receptor tyrosine kinases, have been targeted
for therapeutic intervention by imatinib mesylate-a tyrosine kinase
inhibitor.
Conclusion: Treatment of GISTs with imatinib has led to dramatic
improvements in progress ion-free and overall survival, thereby
rendering its use in the preoperative and postoperative treatment under
intense investigation. New investigational agents are being developed
and participation in promising clinical trials remains a standard of
care. (C) 2006 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved."
}