Treatment for Gastrointestinal Stromal Tumors (GISTs)
Internet URL
http://www.liferaftgroup.org/treat_know.html 
Sponsoring Agency
Description
Prior to 2001, surgery was the only successful treatment option for GIST. However, even for patients whose tumors are completely removed these tumors often return and/or metastasize. Until now, patients with metastatic GIST have had limited treatment options, which have shown only limited success. With the lack of response achieved with radiotherapy or chemotherapy, metastatic GISTs have been almost uniformly lethal. Clearly, there was a medical need for new approaches for managing these patients.