There has been a great deal of progress in recent years, especially in treating gastrointestinal stromal tumors (GISTs). As researchers have come to understand the genetic changes that cause these tumors, they've been able to use newer treatments to target these changes.

Although doctors know treatments like imatinib (Gleevec) work, they still aren't sure exactly how and when to give them to make them most effective. Do they improve survival when given before surgery? Should they be given after surgery to all patients, even those with very small tumors? Should they be given indefinitely, or is there a time period after which they can be stopped? Would sunitinib (Sutent) be as effective as imatinib if it was given first? These questions are now being studied in clinical trials.

Drugs that target the KIT or PDGFRA proteins, such as sorafenib (Nexavar), nilotinib, dasatinib, and others are also being studied. Other studies are looking to see if adding other targeted drugs, such as oblimersen and bevacizumab (Avastin), can help imatinib work better. People with GISTs that are no longer responding to standard treatments may want to ask their doctor about clinical trials of these newer targeted therapies.

Last Medical Review: 05/11/2009
Last Revised: 05/11/2009