Combined treatment strategies in gastrointestinal stromal tumors (GISTs) after imatinib and sunitinib therapy

Received 5 August 2009; received in revised form 14 October 2009; accepted 19 October 2009. published online 16 November 2009.

Abstract

Resistance to tyrosine-kinase inhibitors remains an open issue in the treatment of patients with gastrointestinal stromal tumors. The complex biology of disease in the multi-resistant setting has led a progressively growing urgency and interest in development combined or integrated therapies. This mini-review outlines the rationale for developing new combined therapeutic approaches, and describes the state of the art of the various potential strategies and the promising research perspectives.

Keywords: Gastrointestinal stromal tumors (GISTs), KIT, PGFRA, Imatinib, Sunitinib, Tyrosine-kinase inhibitors, Surgery

a Department of Hematology and Oncological Sciences “L.A. Seragnoli”, S. Orsola-Malpighi Hospital, University of Bologna, Italy

b Emergency Surgery and Transplant Department, S. Orsola-Malpighi Hospital, University of Bologna, Italy

c Interdepartmental Centre of Cancer Research “G. Prodi”, University of Bologna, Italy

Corresponding author. Address: Department of Hematology and Oncological Sciences “L.A. Seragnoli”, University of Bologna, Sant’Orsola-Malpighi Hospital, Via Massarenti 9, 40138 Bologna, Italy. Tel.: +39 051 6364078; fax + 39 051 6364037.

PII: S0305-7372(09)00157-1

doi:10.1016/j.ctrv.2009.10.004

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