Gastrointestinal Stromal Tumors (GIST): Opportunity and Challenges in Diagnosis and Treatment

Dear Colleagues,

GISTs (gastrointestinal stromal tumors) are a subgroup of mesenchymal tumors originating from the interstitial cells of Cajal, which can arise from any part of the gastrointestinal tract, most frequently from the stomach and small intestine, characterized by the expression of the cell–surface transmembrane receptor KIT with tyrosine kinase activity in approximately 95% of tumors. Tumor mutational status is biologically and clinically important in GISTs and makes this tumor a paradigmatic model of oncogene addiction. Constitutively activating mutations in the gene coding for KIT proto-oncogene receptor tyrosine kinase (KIT) or in platelet-derived growth factor receptor alpha (PDGFRA) oncogenes are alternative and mutually exclusive, highlighting their important role in the pathogenesis of GISTs. KIT and PDGFRA mutations represent known prognostic and predictive biomarkers for GISTs and are useful in driving the choice of therapy in the adjuvant and metastatic setting. Notably, evidence to support the prognostic role of mutational status is growing.

We are pleased to invite experts in this field to review the current approaches to managing patients with GIST and focus on the molecular and immunological aspects of this heterogeneous group of neoplasms. In this Special Issue, original research articles and reviews are welcome.

We look forward to receiving your contributions.

Dr. Antonio Russo 
Dr. Giuseppe Badalamenti
Dr. Lorena Incorvaia
Guest Editors

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