[Target-based therapy against gastrointestinal stromal tumors--from molecular diagnosis to molecular target therapy].

Gastrointestinal stromal tumors (GIST) are composed of KIT-positive mesenchymal-origin spindle- or polygonal-shaped tumor cells in the gastrointestinal tract without immunoreactivity for desmin and S-100. The gain-of-function mutations in the c-kit gene (90%) or platelet-derived growth factor receptor alpha (PDGF-R alpha) gene (5%) are now considered to be causative for GIST. STI571 (Glivec), a molecule designed to selectively inhibit Bcr-Abl, KIT, and PDGF-R activity, shows high response rate and efficacy for non-resectable and/or relapsed GIST (PR 60%). Its serious adverse effects (more than Grade 3) were infrequent, thus, tolerability and safety are good. Glivec is the first successful case of molecular target therapy for solid tumors. However, new resistance against this new generation of drug is going to appear and becomes an urgent problem.