Retrospective analysis of 85 cases of intermediate-risk gastrointestinal stromal tumor

Understanding Gastric GIST: From Pathophysiology to Personalized Treatment

Background: Gastric gastrointestinal stromal tumors (GISTs) represent a subset of gastrointestinal tumors predominantly found in the stomach. Despite their rarity, these tumors carry significant implications for patient health and management. GISTs are potentially malignant tumors with unpredictable progression. They originate from the interstitial cells of Cajal, which are positioned between the intramural neurons and the smooth muscle cells of the digestive tract. These tumors are characterized primarily by mutations in the c-Kit gene, as well as other mutations such as those in the platelet-derived growth factor receptor alpha (PDGFRA) gene. Methods: Our comprehensive search across five databases initially yielded 2976 articles. After eliminating 197 duplicates, we screened the titles and abstracts of 2779 articles, excluding 2692 for not meeting the inclusion criteria. During the full-text screening, 16 more articles were excluded. Ultimately, 71 papers met the inclusion criteria and were included in our analysis. Results: Due to differences in study designs, inclusion criteria for patients, and reported outcomes, a meta-analysis was not conducted. The accurate diagnosis of GIST is established through histopathological examination and immunohistochemistry. Histopathologically, GISTs are classified into three main types: spindle cell, epithelioid, and mixed. The therapeutic management of GIST involves surgery, endoscopic treatment, and chemotherapy. Conclusions: The prognosis for GIST patients depends on various factors, including risk category, disease stage, applied treatments, and recurrence post-treatment. A significant recent advancement comes from artificial intelligence, which can be increasingly involved in both the diagnosis and treatment of this tumor.

Clinical outcomes of endoscopic resection for the treatment of intermediate- or high-risk gastric small gastrointestinal stromal tumors: a multicenter retrospective study

BACKGROUND AND AIMS

Many studies of gastric gastrointestinal stromal tumors (g-GISTs) following endoscopic resection (ER) have typically focused on tumor size, with most tumors at low risk of aggressiveness after risk stratification. There have been few systematic studies on the oncologic outcomes of intermediate- or high-risk g-GISTs after ER.

METHODS

From January 2014 to January 2020, we retrospectively collected patients considered at intermediate- or high-risk of g-GISTs according to the modified NIH consensus classification system. The primary outcome was overall survival (OS).

RESULTS

Six hundred and seventy nine (679) consecutive patients were diagnosed with g-GISTs and treated by ER between January 2014 and January 2020 in three hospitals in Shanghai, China. 43 patients (20 males and 23 females) were confirmed at intermediate-or high-risk. The mean size of tumors was 2.23 ± 1.01 cm. The median follow-up period was 62.02 ± 15.34 months, with a range of 28 to 105 months. There were no recurrences or metastases, even among patients having R1 resections. The 5-year OS rate was 97.4% (42/43).

CONCLUSION

ER for intermediate- or high-risk gastric small GISTs is a feasible and safe method, which allows for a wait-and-see approach before determining the necessity for imatinib adjuvant or surgical treatment. This approach to g-GISTs does require that patients undergo close follow-up.

FBXW7 regulates the sensitivity of imatinib in gastrointestinal stromal tumors by targeting MCL1

BACKGROUND

Imatinib contributes to improving prognosis of high-risk or unresectable gastrointestinal stromal tumors (GISTs). As therapeutic efficacy is limited by imatinib resistance and toxicity, the exploration of predictive markers of imatinib therapeutic efficacy that enables patients to utilize more effective therapeutic strategies remains urgent.

METHODS

The correlation between FBXW7 and imatinib resistance via FBXW7-MCL1 axis was evaluated in vitro and in vivo experiments. The significance of FBXW7 as a predictor of imatinib treatment efficacy was examined in 140 high-risk patients with GISTs.

RESULTS

The ability of FBXW7 to predict therapeutic efficacy of adjuvant imatinib in high-risk GIST patients was determined through 5-year recurrence-free survival (RFS) rates analysis and multivariate analysis. FBXW7 affects imatinib sensitivity by regulating apoptosis in GIST-T1 cells. FBXW7 targets MCL1 to regulate apoptosis. MCL1 involves in the regulation of imatinib sensitivity through inhibiting apoptosis in GIST-T1 cells. FBXW7 regulates imatinib sensitivity by down-regulating MCL1 to enhance imatinib-induced apoptosis in vitro. FBXW7 regulates imatinib sensitivity of GIST cells by targeting MCL1 to predict efficacy of imatinib treatment in vivo.

CONCLUSIONS

FBXW7 regulates imatinib sensitivity by inhibiting MCL1 to enhance imatinib-induced apoptosis in GIST, and predicts efficacy of imatinib treatment in high-risk GIST patients treated with imatinib.

Recent Advancements in the Treatment of Rectal Gastrointestinal Stromal Tumor: In Era of Imatinib

Gastrointestinal stromal tumors (GIST) are the most common mesenchymal tumor of the gastrointestinal tract, with an annual incidence of 10–15 cases per million. However, rectal GIST has a low incidence, accounting for approximately 0.1% of all rectal tumors. The treatment of rectal GISTs is still controversial and the relative unified guidelines and consensus opinions are inadequate. Treatment is based primarily on the clinical experience of the physician. The widespread application of neoadjuvant imatinib therapy allows diversification of treatment, especially in the choice of surgical methods. Herein, we reviewed the most recent literature and summarized the new progress in rectal tumor treatment, with the aim of providing patients with more systematic and individualized therapeutic strategies.

A Retrospective Study of Postoperative Outcomes in 98 Patients Diagnosed with Gastrointestinal Stromal Tumor (GIST) of the Upper, Middle, and Lower Gastrointestinal Tract Between 2009 and 2019 at a Single Center in Poland

BACKGROUND Gastrointestinal stromal tumors (GISTs) arise in the smooth muscle pacemaker interstitial cells of Cajal, or similar cells. The aim of this retrospective study between 2009 and 2019 from a single center in Poland was to assess the selected prognostic factors (location, tumor size, mitotic index, body mass index (BMI), length of hospital stay, age, sex, and coexistent neoplasm) and to investigate postoperative outcomes in 98 patients with GIST of the upper, middle, and lower gastrointestinal tract. MATERIAL AND METHODS Between 2009 and 2019, 98 patients (50 women and 48 men) with an average age of 63.8 years (range from 38 to 90 years) were operated on for GIST in the Department of Gastrointestinal Surgery in Katowice, Poland. Based on the intraoperative and postoperative investigations, the tumor size and mitotic index were determined in each case. RESULTS A statistically significant correlation between age and mitotic index (MI) was found (p=0.02). The higher the MI, the younger the age of the patients. However, regardless of sex, younger patients had a tendency to survive longer. A >60-year-old male patient's probability of survival was around 65% after 40 months. Higher mitotic index was also associated with larger tumor size (p<0.0001). Female patients had a tendency to survive longer than males. CONCLUSIONS The findings from this small retrospective study support the importance of preoperative evaluation and frequent postoperative follow-up for patients with GIST of the gastrointestinal tract, particularly in older male patients, and patients with malignant comorbidities, which are associated with increased mortality.

Gastric gastrointestinal stromal tumors. Is there a necessity to use imatinib in the intermediate-risk group?

BACKGROUND

A gastrointestinal stromal tumor (GIST) is a tumor that occurs in the gastrointestinal tract, most frequently in the stomach or small intestine. This study aimed to reveal the clinical, histopathological, and immunohistochemical features of patients with GIST and to determine the effect of adjuvant tyrosine kinase inhibitor (TKI) use on survival rates in intermediate-risk gastric GIST cases.

METHODS

Clinical characteristics, histopathological findings, and oncological outcomes of 51 patients operated on for gastric GIST between 2010 and 2019 were analyzed retrospectively. Patients treated with neoadjuvant and adjuvant TKI were identified. The effect of adjuvant therapy on survival in the intermediate-risk group was examined.

RESULTS

There were 33 females and 18 males, with a mean age of 64.9 ± 12.8 years. The most common surgical procedure was gastric wedge resection. Three cases were treated with laparoscopy, and 48 underwent open surgery. A multi-visceral resection was carried out in three cases. All cases underwent R0 resection. In the intermediate-risk group, there were no statistical differences between individuals receiving adjuvant therapy (n =12) and those not receiving adjuvant therapy (n =6) regarding survival rates (p =0.157). The average follow-up period was 54.9 (min: 2 - max: 106) months. Over this period, in three and five patients, recurrence and metastases occurred, respectively, and seven patients succumbed to the disease. Disease-free survival for five years was 93.7 %, metastasis-free survival was 83.4 %, and overall survival was 86.7 %. HIPPOKRATIA 2021, 25 (3):113-118.

CONCLUSIONS

This study showed that adjuvant TKI therapy did not affect survival rates in intermediate-risk gastric GIST.

The current status of and prospects in research regarding gastrointestinal stromal tumors in China

China still lacks statistical data regarding the incidence of gastrointestinal stromal tumors (GISTs). Data from 3 regions have demonstrated that the incidence of GISTs in China is similar to that in the United States. Furthermore, no significant differences between both nations with regard to epidemiological characteristics and genotyping of GISTs have been reported. Chinese physicians are demonstrating an increased interest in studies regarding GISTs. Currently, to the authors' knowledge, China publishes the most research articles regarding GIST annually worldwide. Despite the paucity of relevant research regarding the clinical practices for GISTs, a series of studies performed by Chinese physicians in the fields of recurrence risk classification, laparoscopic surgery, and adjuvant therapy have contributed to the diagnosis and treatment of GISTs. The lack of innovative drugs, slow approval of new drugs, and insufficient research funds have limited further advancements in GIST-related research in China. In recent years, increased investment in scientific research has allowed for these advancements to be made by creating conditions for Chinese physicians to conduct high-level clinical research. Chinese researchers hope to further shorten the gap between China and the rest of the world in the field of GIST research within a relatively short period. The purpose of the current review article was to present the most updated information regarding the diagnosis and treatment of GISTs in Chinese medical practice and to suggest prospective research in this field.

The role of FBXW7, a cell-cycle regulator, as a predictive marker of recurrence of gastrointestinal stromal tumors

BACKGROUND

Few reliable prognostic markers have been established despite elucidation of the molecular mechanisms of gastrointestinal stromal tumor (GIST) development. We evaluated F-box and WD repeat domain-containing 7 (FBXW7), a cell-cycle-regulating and tumor suppressor, in GISTs. We aimed to determine the clinical relevance of FBXW7 in GISTs and characterize the molecular mechanism of FBXW7 in a GIST cell line.

METHODS

We measured FBXW7 expression in 182 GIST cases, correlated the expression levels with clinicopathological features, and characterized the molecular mechanism underlying suppressed FBXW7 expression in GIST cells in vitro.

RESULTS

Of the 182 GISTs, 98 (53.8%) and 84 (46.2%) were categorized in the high and low FBXW7 expression groups, respectively. Compared with the high FBXW7 expression group, the low expression group showed a significantly poorer prognosis in terms of recurrence-free (P = 0.01) and overall (P = 0.03) survival. FBXW7 expression was a significant independent factor affecting the 10-year recurrence-free survival rate (P = 0.04). In vitro, FBXW7-specific siRNAs enhanced c-myc and Notch 1 protein expression and upregulated cell proliferation, invasion, and migration.

CONCLUSION

FBXW7 is a potential predictive marker of recurrence after curative resection of GISTs. FBXW7 expression may help identify patients benefitting from adjuvant therapy more precisely compared with a conventional risk stratification model.

Small bowel gastrointestinal stromal tumor: a retrospective study of 32 cases at a single center and review of the literature

Background

Gastrointestinal stromal tumor (GIST) is a rare tumor of the small bowel, which can be difficult to diagnose and has a varied clinical outcome.

Purpose

This is a retrospective review of the diagnosis, management, and clinical outcome of 32 patients diagnosed with primary small bowel GIST from a single center and a comparison of the findings with previously published cases.

Patients and methods

Retrospective review of data from patient clinical records, endoscopic and imaging findings, surgical procedures, tumor histology and immunohistochemistry, and clinical outcome was conducted.

Results

Data of 32 patients with a median age of 56 years including 50% men and women were reviewed. The majority (29/32) were symptomatic at presentation, with the main symptom being gastrointestinal bleeding (15/32). Imaging detection rates included ultrasound (0%), magnetic resonance imaging (0%), computed tomography (54.8%), computed tomography angiography (71.4%), and double-balloon enteroscopy (88.9%). The mean tumor diameter was 5.3 cm; 4 tumors were located in the duodenum, 21 in the jejunum, and 7 in the ileum. Based on the tumor size and mitotic index, 5 (15.6%), 15 (46.9%), 0 (0%), and 12 (37.5%) patients were classified into very low-risk, low-risk, intermediate-risk, and high-risk groups. Immunohistochemistry showed positive expression for CD117 (100%), CD34 (81.2%), DOG1 (93.8%), smooth muscle actin (37.5%), S100 (9.4%), and desmin (6.2%). Twenty-five patients (78.1%) were treated with open surgical tumor resection; seven patients (21.9%) underwent laparoscopic surgery. Postoperative complications that occurred in seven patients (21.9%) were resolved with conservative management. Four patients were treated with postoperative imatinib. At median follow-up of 30 months, two patients were died.

Conclusion

The findings from this case series, combined with the findings from previously published cases, provide an update on the current status of the diagnosis and the therapeutic approaches that might lead to improvement in prognosis for patients who present with primary small bowel GIST.