Association of intratumoral vascular endothelial growth factor expression and clinical outcome for patients with gastrointestinal stromal tumors treated with imatinib mesylate.

Purpose: Imatinib mesylate (imatinib) has revolutionized clinical outcomes of patients with advanced gastrointestinal stromal tumor (GIST). However, the degree of individual benefit varies, and little is known about prognostic factors for these patients. Importantly, selected patients may be treated with an approach to target both Kit and vascular endothelial growth factor receptor (VEGFR) expression.

Expression of receptor tyrosine kinases and apoptotic molecules in rhabdomyosarcoma: correlation with overall survival in 105 patients.

Background: Rhabdomyosarcoma (RMS) is a rare mesenchymal tumor with few treatment options after the failure of first-line therapy. Understanding the expression of kinases and apoptotic molecules in RMS tumors may lead to elucidation of mechanisms of resistance to chemotherapy and development of new therapies.

Methods: Paraffin-embedded tissue samples were collected from 105 RMS patients treated at the M.

Correlation of immunophenotype with progression-free survival in patients with gastrointestinal stromal tumors treated with imatinib mesylate.

Background: The therapy for gastrointestinal stromal tumor (GIST) has been revolutionized by imatinib mesylate (IM). It is unknown whether the levels of KIT expression or the presence of CD34, smooth muscle actin (SMA), desmin, or S-100 protein predicts patient outcome from IM therapy. In the current study, the prognostic effects for KIT and other proteins (CD34, SMA, desmin, S-100) were analyzed in a series of GISTs in which protein expression was evaluated by immunohistochemical analysis (IHC).

Expression of Bcl-2 in gastrointestinal stromal tumors: correlation with progression-free survival in 81 patients treated with imatinib mesylate.

Background: The natural history of gastrointestinal stromal tumor (GIST) has been revolutionized by imatinib mesylate (imatinib) therapy. Before imatinib, Bcl-2 expression in GIST was associated with a worse prognosis or added no additional prognostic value. To the authors' knowledge, the current study is the first to evaluate Bcl-2 expression in pre-imatinib GIST tissue samples as a prognostic marker of progression-free survival (PFS) time in patients treated with imatinib.

Recent studies in novel therapy for metastatic sarcomas.

Many new chemotherapeutic agents and targeted therapies are being studied in the treatment of metastatic soft tissue sarcomas (STSs). This article reviews results of recent clinical studies of gemcitabine, docetaxel, paclitaxel, ecteinascidin, 9-nitrocamptothecin, and pegylated liposomal doxorubicin, in patients who have STSs. The use of targeted therapy in STSs is an exciting, constantly changing field.

Imatinib mesylate in the treatment of gastrointestinal stromal tumour.

Imatinib mesylate is a selective and potent small-molecule inhibitor of tyrosine kinases, including Kit, platelet-derived growth factor receptor, and the BCR-Abl fusion protein. Kit plays an important role in gastrointestinal stromal tumours (GISTs) and is one of the most exciting therapeutic targets discovered so far. Clinical trials have consistently shown the dramatic efficacy of imatinib mesylate in patients with GIST.

Update on the biology and therapy of gastrointestinal stromal tumors.

Background: Gastrointestinal stromal tumors (GISTs), the most common mesenchymal tumors of the gastrointestinal tract, are an example of a disease with an effective, molecularly targeted therapy.

Methods: Published articles and author experience were used to comprehensively define the clinical features, biology, and state-of-the-art therapy of GISTs.

Results: GISTs are thought to originate from the neoplastic transformation of the interstitial cells of Cajal, the intestinal pacemaker cells.

Molecular targets in therapy for human soft-tissue and bone sarcomas.

Sarcomas represent a heterogeneous group of tumors with different natural histories and therapeutic approaches. Recent discoveries have identified molecular alterations in the pathogenesis of these tumors that lead to distinct effects on sarcoma cell biology. These tumor cell characteristics include independence from growth factors, evasion of apoptosis, and maintenance of genomic integrity.