In a recent article in the May 2015 edition of the European Journal of Cancer, Heikki Joensuu, one of the foremost authorities on adjuvant treatment for GIST, discussed how follow-up treatment is currently performed for [...]
The side effects of traditional chemotherapy treatments are often apparent, with images of bald patients with pain-etched faces captured in photographs. For targeted therapies such as those for GIST patients and other cancers that [...]
A recent study published in the American Journal of Clinical Oncology found that the use of adjuvant systemic therapy with imatinib for GIST has increased significantly over time, and that patients treated with the therapy [...]
Some stomach GISTs smaller than 2 cm may pose more risk than previously thought according to a new report from China.
Our first Chicago GIST Day of Learning (GDOL) was a huge success! Over 50 GISTers and their families gathered for a great day of learning, and sharing experiences. It was wonderful to get to meet so many new people and reconnect with old friends.
Co-Existing Conditions Co-existing conditions are medical illnesses or problematic conditions that a person has along with cancer, such as high blood pressure, diabetes, or depression. These conditions often influence how a person responds to treatment, [...]
Recently, the Life Raft Group began work on a survey project sponsored by Novartis Pharmaceuticals designed to assess knowledge and practices among patients and physicians regarding mutational analysis and plasma level testing.
January 6th, 2011 - By Jerry Call, LRG Science CoordinatorThe first ever clinical trial specifically for the PDGFRA D842V mutation has been announced by Arog pharmaceuticals. The phase II trial is scheduled to open in [...]
GIST patients face many decisions about their treatment. Many GIST patients have surgery to remove a primary tumor and do not have detectable metastases at the time of surgery. This large group of patients faces the decision of whether or not to take Gleevec to try to prevent or delay a recurrence. Adjuvant therapy refers to additional treatment given after a main mode of therapy (the main treatment is usually surgery). For example, Gleevec given after surgery in hopes of preventing or delaying a recurrence is called adjuvant therapy.
