In the offices of the Life Raft Group, we receive reports of many CT scans findings that are inconclusive. On a regular basis, scans results are misinterpreted as resistance leading to the premature cessation of imatinib therapy which has the potential to reduce long-term survival. This is of greater concern when the radiologist reading the scans has little experience with GIST or when a patient is not consulting with a GIST specialist. Traditional criteria for the evaluation of tumor resistance are likely to overdiagnose the occurrence of progression. Proper use and interpretation of CT scans is vital for effective GIST treatment. Some experts in GIST imaging are now advocating the routine use of both CT and PET scans for GIST. At the present time however, CT (or MRI) is the recommended imaging method according to the NCCN sarcoma practice guidelines (v.1.2008). The guidelines also state to “Consider PET” and that “PET is not a substitute for a CT.”

GISTs without mutations in either of the two genes commonly mutated in GIST typically respond poorly to Gleevec. Andrew Godwin, Ph.D. of Fox Chase Cancer Center and other researchers appear to have found a major driving force in these tumors. Dr. Godwin presented his findings at the 2008 American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) meeting in Chicago on Saturday, May 31. In addition, Dr. Godwin’s work is scheduled to be published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (PNAS) on June 1, 2008.