Gastrointestinal stromal tumor

From YouTuber Grace Helbig announcing her cancer diagnosis to the NFL’s Foster Moreau being in full remission, here’s what’s happening in the oncology space this week.

Patients with GIST have more treatment options than ever, with others currently under development.

The National Comprehensive Cancer Network updated their guidelines to state that Qinlock is the recommended second-line treatment for patients with Sutent-intolerant gastrointestinal stromal tumors.

As a doctor, I’m used to providing medical care, but once I was diagnosed with cancer, I became a patient — someone receiving medical care, too.

Nearly two thirds of patients with GISTs — a rare type of cancer that often begins in the digestive system — indicated that their overall quality of life after treatment had been affected by cancer-related cognitive impairments, also referred to as “chemo brain,” according to analysis of survey data.

The location of gastrointestinal stromal tumors in the stomach predicts the mutation profile and drug sensitivity, which can provide direction for treatment decisions and selective genomic testing.

Gastrointestinal stromal tumors that are SDH deficient are less likely to respond to TKI treatment. A researcher discusses the exploration of a new drug that can work in this patient population.

Patients, clinicians and researchers should work together to find new therapies for rare cancers, one expert says.

Will patients be given a placebo? Are clinical trials safe? An expert answers these questions and more.

The combination of Gleevec and Xpovio demonstrated some promising results in a small group of patients with a rare form of advanced gastrointestinal cancer whose disease had failed to respond to prior first-line treatment with Gleevec.

Treatment with the study drug was associated with a doubling of a survival outcome in patients with advanced gastrointestinal stromal tumor, compared to placebo.

Twice-daily treatment with Qinlock following disease progression after treatment with fourth-line therapy in patients with advanced gastrointestinal stromal tumor was associated with extended survival outcomes.

Ayvakit demonstrated more durable survival outcomes in patients with unresectable/metastatic platelet-derived growth factor receptor A D842V-mutant gastrointestinal stromal tumors than tyrosine kinase inhibitors.

It is difficult for anyone to receive a cancer diagnosis, but when someone who is younger than average finds out they have gastrointestinal cancer, they may face other challenges.

In a recent interview with CURE®, an expert from Fox Chase Cancer Center discussed gastrointestinal stromal tumors (GIST) and addressed a multitude of topics including common symptoms associated with the disease, and potential future therapies that may be beneficial for patients.

Results of a preliminary clinical trial show that MK-1775 — an investigational therapy — as a single agent, or in combination with Ayvakit, may be effective in the treatment of gastrointestinal stromal tumors. However, one of the study’s authors notes that further research is needed to determine a benefit in patients.

The data in the study presented at the ASCO Gastrointestinal Cancers Symposium demonstrated that while rare, stage 4 gastrointestinal stromal tumors often spread to the liver.

A group of patients with gastrointestinal cancers reported that a novel artificial intelligence-based search tool made it easier for them to find and understand cancer clinical trials. The tool, according to study authors, would not only help with trial accrual, but could also help improve trial diversity.

The targeted drug Qinlock, which interferes with the activity of proteins that drive gastrointestinal stromal tumor, has been approved by the Food and Drug Administration for patients with advanced disease that has progressed despite treatment with other kinase inhibitors.

Patients with gastrointestinal stromal tumors have a new targeted therapy that looks to tackle secondary mutations after it showed a strong response rate in the clinic.

The Food and Drug Administration approved Ayvakit for the treatment of adult patients with unresectable or metastatic gastrointestinal stromal tumor who exhibited a platelet-derived growth factor receptor alpha exon 18 mutation.

How zeroing in on the mutation in gastrointestinal stromal tumors is adding years to patients’ lives

The Life Raft Group, a patient advocacy organization, is teaming up with research organizations to hopefully find the next wave of treatment for patients with gastrointestinal stromal tumors.

Identified only a decade-and-a-half ago, GIST is already treatable with several targeted therapies, and scientists are researching more.

Moving back into the light.