Patient-derived xenograft models of gastrointestinal stromal tumors: a ready-to-use platform for translational research.

Gastrointestinal stromal tumors (GIST) are the most common mesenchymal malignancy of the gastrointestinal tract. Most GIST harbor mutations in oncogenes, such as KIT, and are treated with tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKI), such as imatinib. Most tumors develop secondary mutations inducing drug resistance against the available TKI, which requires novel therapies.

Potentially actionable targets in synovial sarcoma: A tissue microarray study.

Background: Synovial sarcoma (SynSa) is one of the most common translocation-related soft tissue sarcomas. Patients with metastatic SynSa have limited treatment options and a very poor prognosis. Several novel experimental therapies are currently being explored in clinical trials, including T cell-based therapies targeting cancer testis antigens such as New York esophageal squamous cell carcinoma 1 (NY-ESO-1) or melanoma-associated antigen A4 (MAGE-A4), and degraders targeting bromodomain-containing protein 9 (BRD9).