Publications by authors named "Christopher Walentas"
Background: Gastrointestinal stromal tumors (GIST), one of the most common mesenchymal tumors of the gastrointestinal tract, prior to routine immunohistochemical staining and the introduction of tyrosine kinase inhibitors, were often mistaken for neoplasms of smooth muscle origin such as leiomyomas, leiomyosarcomas or leiomyoblastomas. Since the advent of imatinib, GIST has been further delineated into adult- (KIT or PDGFRα mutations) and pediatric- (typified by wild-type GIST/succinate dehydrogenase deficiencies) types. Using varying gender ratios at age of diagnosis we sought to elucidate prognostic factors for each sub-type and their impact on overall survival.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFBackground: To better understand the status of frontotemporal dementia (FTD) research, and identify opportunities to accelerate translational research, we analyzed international funding for FTD and related dementias between 1998 and 2008.
Methods: Search terms were compiled to define the clinical spectrum of FTD and all known mechanisms. Funders were asked to return grants that contained these search terms in the title or abstract.
Objectives: Self-reported progression was evaluated as a predictor of survival in patients with metastatic gastrointestinal stromal tumor (GIST).
Methods: This is a follow-up of an open cohort study of Life Raft Group (LRG) members with a diagnosis of KIT-positive metastatic GIST receiving imatinib from May 2000-December 2007 reporting their subjective response to therapy by completion of an internet-based questionnaire. Subjects received >or= 1 year of imatinib and reported an initial positive response.