Latest GIST and NET Research Shows These Cases Are No Longer Rare
Dubai, UAE: Gulf-based doctors fully support the newest prescription treatments for patients with gastrointestinal stromal tumors (GIST) or neuroendocrine tumors (NET), according to reports shared on the sidelines of two recent gatherings of medical professionals.
Gastrointestinal stromal tumors (GIST) belong to a group of cancers known as soft tissue sarcomas, and, as the most common sarcomas, they can be found most often in the stomach and small intestine. Neuroendocrine tumors (NET) can be found in the digestive system, yet they can arise in other parts of the body such as the lungs and the pancreas.
Dr. Mohamed Jaloudi, Consultant Medical Oncologist, Tawam Hospital, said: "The incidences of GIST and NET in patient populations have been hard to track due to the lack of cancer registries. GIST cases also have often been under-diagnosed or misclassified. Similar misdiagnosis occurs with NET because these tumors can grow slowly and sometimes produce minor symptoms for quite awhile."
"As a result, GIST and NET tumors are often found incidentally during tests or treatments for other conditions such as irritable bowel syndrome, Crohns Disease, peptic ulcer disease, gastritis or gallstones. But the new research and advanced medicines being discussed now are bringing us much closer to the proper early detection and treatment of these fatal diseases," Dr. Jaloudi noted.
Recently the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved imatinib for the post-surgery treatment of adult patients following complete surgical removal of so-called "Kit (CD117)-positive" gastrointestinal stromal tumors.
The FDA approval is based on new data from a National Cancer Institute-sponsored Phase III study that showed a dramatic reduction in the recurrence of GIST after surgery in patients treated for about one year with imatinib versus a placebo. For GIST patients who were assigned to imatinib, more than nine out of 10 remained cancer-free after a median follow up of 14 months.
GIST recurs in as many as one of two patients; recurrent tumors are often more aggressive than primary tumors. Imatinib is now the only post-surgery treatment indicated to delay the return of this aggressive cancer, filling a major need for GIST patients. Regulatory reviews are currently underway in other regions.
NET is described by the World Health Organization (WHO) as a diverse mixture of tumors that include pancreatic NET and carcinoid tumors. In some cases, NET can be part of inherited syndromes that affect the endocrine system. Like many other diseases, lifestyle factors such as smoking may increase the risk for NET. Pancreatic NET is most commonly found in men and women aged 40 to 60 years old.
NET tumors cause hormones to over-secrete, with negative effects. Specialists have treated NET patients with octreotide to block hormone secretion from the tumor and reduce the debilitating symptoms produced by these hormones.
GISTour '09 (Global Interdisciplinary Specialists Training around the World) and NET Tour '09, interactive road-shows sponsored by Novartis Oncology, presented the latest results involving state-of-the-art GIST and NET treatment and management in patients. Reflecting the multidisciplinary aspect of GIST and NET management, the audience at the symposia included medical oncologists, surgical oncologists, gastroenterologists, radiologists and pathologists.
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© Press Release 2009
