Analysis of CD117-negative gastrointestinal stromal tumors. (25/837)

AIM: To identify the gastrointestinal stromal tumors (GISTs) that are negative for CD117 expression by immunohistochemistry and to characterize their malignant potential. METHODS: A total of 108 primary mesenchymal tumors of the gastrointestinal tract were screened to select CD117-negative tumors, from which KIT (exons 9, 11, 13, and 17) and PDGFRA (exons 10, 12, 14, and 18) were sequenced to identify GISTs. Tumor recurrence and distant metastasis were used as the criteria of malignancy. RESULTS: The result showed that approximately 25% (29/108) of the gastrointestinal mesenchymal tumors were negative for CD117 and approximately 6% (7/108) of the tumors were CD117-negative GISTs. All these CD117-negative tumors had a mutated KIT and a wild-type PDGFRA. All CD117-negative GISTs with mutations at codons 557/558 of KIT had mitotic counts >10/50 high power field, and 75% (3/4) of them showed multiple recurrence or distant metastasis. CONCLUSION: CD117-negative KIT mutated GISTs account for approximately 6% of the gastrointestinal mesenchymal tumors. Tumor recurrence or distant metastasis correlates to both the KIT mutations at codons 557/558 and the mitotic counts, but not to the tumor size.  (+info)

Malignant gastrointestinal stromal tumor of the small intestine complicated with pulmonary tuberculosis during treatment with imatinib mesylate. (26/837)

We describe a patient who had a metastatic gastrointestinal stromal tumor (GIST) after previous failed extensive therapy, including multiple surgeries and hepatic artery embolization. Within a few months of starting administration of imatinib mesylate, the patient exhibited a clinical response with grade 3 neutropenia, when pulmonary tuberculosis developed. A c-kit mutation in exon 11 was detected only in metastatic liver specimens. It is unclear whether or not pulmonary tuberculosis may be induced by imatinib mesylate treatment, but caution is warranted in immunocompromised GIST patients. This is the first report of tuberculosis associated with neutropenia during imatinib mesylate treatment.  (+info)

Fine needle aspiration cytology diagnosis of gastrointestinal stromal tumors utilizing scanning electron microscopy. (27/837)

BACKGROUND: Digestive stromal neoplasms are the most frequent undifferentiated mesenchymal tumors. The outcome of these malignancies is difficult to predict and the histogenesis is still controversial. However, the frequent and specific expression of CD117 (c-kit) by these tumors could imply an origin from interstitial cells of Cajal. Our objective was to analyze the role of fine needle aspiration cytology, cell block preparation, and immunocytochemistry in the interpretation of gastrointestinal stromal tumors, and to establish scanning electron microscopy as a useful research aid for pathologic changes of the surface cells of gastrointestinal stromal tumors, not totally appreciated by light microscopy. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Twelve cases of gastrointestinal stromal tumors were included in this study, in which fine needle aspiration cytology was performed. RESULTS: On aspirated material, the tumor cells formed closely packed cohesive tissue fragments with high cellular density often in bloody background, or fascicles with parallel side-by-side arrangements of the nuclei. On cell block biopsy material, gastrointestinal stromal tumors were highly cellular spindle or epithelioid tumors with basophilic appearance. Immunocytochemically, they were CD117 positive in all twelve cases, CD34 positive in nine, weakly smooth muscle actin-positive in five, and S-100 and GFAP-negative in all cases. The scanning electron microscopy study showed a strong correlation with the cytomorphological profile. CONCLUSIONS: Gastrointestinal stromal tumors show a broad morphologic variety, but nuclear pleomorphism by cytology alone, rarely correlates with malignant potential. In the appropriate clinical and radiological setting, a confident diagnosis of gastrointestinal stromal tumors can be documented by fine needle aspiration cytology, cell block, immunocytochemical, and scanning electron microscopy results.  (+info)

Staging for CLL-type non-Hodgkin's lymphoma reveals a gastrointestinal stromal tumour. (28/837)

We report a 73-year-old man presenting with fatigue, lymphadenopathy and weight loss. He had no abdominal pain, fever or night sweats. Physical examination revealed a palpable 1.4-cm hard nontender lymph node behind the left sternocleidomastoid muscle and a palpable 2-cm lymph node in the left axilla. Bone marrow examination and excisional biopsy of the lymph node behind the left sterno-cleidomastoid muscle showed a CLL-type non-Hodgkin's lymphoma (CLL-type NHL). Staging by CT scanning revealed, besides axillary and mediastinal adenopathy, an unexpected mass in the stomach. Gastroscopy and pathological evaluation showed a gastrointestinal stromal tumour (GIST) with immunohistochemical staining for CD 34 and CD 117. The patient was treated with imatinib. CLL-type NHL and GIST both tend to occur in middle-aged and older patients. A double-tumour consisting of both these tumours is rare: the incidence is estimated to be 3 per 10 billion people.  (+info)

Imatinib and gastrointestinal stromal tumors: Where do we go from here? (29/837)

Imatinib has tremendously changed the treatment of gastrointestinal stromal tumor (GIST). Research is currently focusing on its optimal use and the mechanisms of resistance that may emerge. A multidisciplinary approach including medical oncologists, surgeons, radiologists, and pathologists is crucial for the optimal management of these patients. Moreover, imatinib treatment in GIST represents an extraordinary model to expand our knowledge on the molecular mechanisms that are basic to the effects of molecularly targeted therapies. This review summarizes the existing knowledge of the imatinib treatment in GIST and describes directions for further development.  (+info)

Consensus meeting for the management of gastrointestinal stromal tumors. Report of the GIST Consensus Conference of 20-21 March 2004, under the auspices of ESMO. (30/837)

BACKGROUND: The management of gastrointestinal stromal tumors (GIST) has evolved very rapidly in the last 4 years. The objectives of this international consensus meeting were to describe the optimal management procedures for patients with GIST in localized and advanced stages, as well as research issues for the future. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A panel of experts from six specialties, including pathology, molecular biology, imaging, surgery, medical oncology and methodologists for clinical practice guidelines from different European and extra European sarcoma societies were invited to a 2-day workshop. Several questions were selected by the organizing committee prior to the conference. Selected panelists reviewed the current levels of evidence for each point, and presented their conclusions during the meeting. These proposals were discussed, and consensus points were identified and categorized according to the Standard Options Recommandations (SOR) of the French Federation of Cancer Centers and National Comprehensive Cancer Network (NCCN). RESULTS: Thirty-two consensus points were identified, most from categories 2A of the NCCN and B2 of the SOR. Among these, the standard histological examination with immunohistochemical analysis using CD117, CD34, PS100, desmin and smooth muscle actin is considered standard. Molecular biology for the identification of KIT and PDGFRA mutation is an optional diagnostic procedure for GIST with negative CD117 staining, and otherwise is considered a research procedure. Complete tumor resection with negative tumor margins is the standard surgical treatment. Adjuvant imatinib after optimal tumor resection as well as neo-adjuvant imatinib remain experimental approaches to be performed within prospective clinical studies. Imatinib should be started at the date of diagnosis of metastatic relapse and given until development of intolerance or progressive disease. The optimal criteria for tumor response to imatinib remain to be delineated, and should include not only tumor size reduction or disease stabilization, but also reduction of tumor density (Hounsfield Units) on computed tomography and metabolic activity (i.e. reduction of FDG uptake on positron emission tomography). In a substantial proportion of patients, stable disease and even increase in tumor size may be associated with pathologic response to imatinib therapy, and available survival data indicate that the survival of these patients is similar to that of patients with conventional tumor response. Metastasis resection is an experimental procedure. CONCLUSIONS: Consensus points in clinical management of GIST as well as questions for future clinical trials were identified during this consensus conference on GIST management.  (+info)

Gastrointestinal stromal tumors: a clinicopathologic and immunohistochemical study of 136 cases. (31/837)

The clinicopathologic features of 136 gastrointestinal stromal tumors were analyzed. The tumors occurred in 60 women and 76 men, ranging in age from 19 to 88 years (median 59 years, mean 59.2 years). Sixty-one cases arose from stomach, 38 from small intestine and 11 from colon or rectum. Abdominal cavity was indicated as tumor site in 10 cases, but the extra-gastrointestinal origin using strict criteria was not proved. Four locally recurrent cases and 12 metastatic samples were also included. The primary and recurrent tumors ranged in size from 0.5 to 30 cm (mean 8.3 cm). The large number of high-grade cases (85 of 112 classifiable) is alarming and emphasize the importance of oncology care. Histologically, ninety-two cases were classified as spindle cell while 11 as epithelioid GIST. Mixed cellularity was seen in 33 cases. Skeinoid fibers were present in 14 and coagulation necrosis in 40 primary cases. Ulceration observed by microscopic examination was common (36 of 110 cases, 32.7%), explaining the clinically frequently observed gastrointestinal bleeding. Unusual histological features such as stromal hyalinization and nuclear palisading were present in 30 and 27 cases, respectively. Immunohistochemical CD117 (c-kit) positivity was documented in 133 cases. Three cases with CD117 negative results were included, because their morphology was most consistent with GIST and immunohistochemical reactions excluded the possibility of other neoplasms. CD34 positivity was seen in 70%, alpha-smooth muscle actin positivity in 39.6% of examined cases. Only one case showed desmin reactivity and seven had S100 positive tumor cells. For h-caldesmon 39 cases proved to be positive (60.9% of the tested cases).  (+info)

Cellular hamartoma resembling gastrointestinal stromal tumor: a solid tumor of the pancreas expressing c-kit (CD117). (32/837)

Solid tumors of the pancreas are usually neoplastic. We report on two adult patients, each with a solid tumor of the pancreas that presented with an unusual histology and seemed to follow a benign course. The tumors, one located in the body and one in the tail, were well demarcated and composed of irregularly arranged but well-differentiated acini and small intralobular and interlobular ducts embedded in predominantly hypocellular fibrotic tissue that contained fascicles of cytologically bland spindle cells. Islets were lacking, but immunohistochemical staining for chromogranin A and insulin revealed individual scattered insulin-producing cells distributed between acinar and ductal cells. The spindle cell component tissue showed coexpression of CD34, c-kit (CD117) and bcl-2. The follow-up (2 and 4 years) of the patients was uneventful. We propose to designate the tumors as 'cellular hamartoma resembling gastrointestinal stromal tumor.  (+info)