This is Not the End – A Survivor’s Story
A story about a cancer survivor recently appeared in the Washington Post: “This is not the end; Using immunotherapy and a genetic glitch to give cancer patients hope”. The story is about a young [...]
A story about a cancer survivor recently appeared in the Washington Post: “This is not the end; Using immunotherapy and a genetic glitch to give cancer patients hope”. The story is about a young [...]
We are in the midst of one of the most exciting times in history to be involved in cancer research. Over 60 anti-cancer drugs have gained FDA-approval in the last 10 years, and that [...]
In a recent article in Cure Today, LRG Marketing Director, Erin Kristoff, details the importance of side effects management and the role the LRG plays in helping to extend survival and to improve the [...]
Dr. Chris Corless In August, the LRG Webcast Series presented “Mutational Analysis of GISTs: How, When and Why.” Dr. Christopher Corless of Oregon Health and Science University (OHSU) presented the hour- long [...]
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.
For many years, wild-type GIST tumors were a mystery. In 2007, Barbara Pasini, J. Aidan Carney, Constantine Stratakis and colleagues identified the first mutations in pediatric GIST tumors in a protein called succinate dehydrogenase (SDH). Coding (instructions) for making the SDH protein is contained in four subunits (genes), SDHA, SDHB, SHDC and SDHD. The group, led by Constantine Stratakis, initially reported mutations in three of the four subunits; SDHB, SHDC and SDHD. SHDA remained a mystery.
Only six percent of GIST patients in the United States take advantage of testing that could be used to individualize their treatment according to a new article in the Annals of Oncology. Dr. Peter Pisters of MD Anderson Cancer Center in Houston, Texas and his colleagues reported results of the GIST reGISTry, a Novartis Pharmaceuticals-supported registry of 882 GIST patients in the United States.
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 [...]
KIT exon 11 and exon 9 mutations represent the two most common types of mutations (wild-type GIST is technically not a type of mutation but a lack of mutations) found in GIST patients. About 60 to 65 percent of GIST patients have a KIT exon 11 mutation and about 10 to15 percent have a KIT exon 9 mutation.
This month, Novartis Pharmaceuticals (maker of Gleevec) launched a new website designed to help optimize the outcome of GIST patients taking Gleevec. Some of the featured content is about blood level testing for GIST. In addition, the website prominently links to the Avantix labs website (www.bloodleveltesting.com) for testing Gleevec blood levels in CML and GIST.