Gastrointestinal Stromal Tumor Treatment

GIST is a rare form of intestinal cancer and the most common form of sarcoma. Each patient receives compassionate, high-quality care in an advanced treatment setting. As Georgia’s only National Cancer Institute (NCI)-designated Comprehensive Cancer Center, Winship is considered a high-volume center, seeing more GIST patients than any other cancer center in the region.

Our multidisciplinary team of gastrointestinal cancer and sarcoma experts manages and treats this type of cancer on a routine basis.

Winship takes an individualized approach to cancer care. Once a patient is diagnosed with GIST, a robust evaluation and expert review process take place. Your care team will then work with you to develop an individualized treatment plan which will be personalized to meet your needs and will take into account the stage of your disease, your overall health, the side effects of the treatment and relieving GIST symptoms.

Your GIST care team ranks among the top cancer experts in the world, with highly experienced surgical oncologists, medical oncologists, gastroenterologists, radiologists, GIST/sarcoma pathologists, pharmacists and advanced practice nurses with expertise in gastrointestinal cancer and sarcoma treatment.

Surgery is the standard treatment for most patients with a primary GIST when it has not spread. Surgery to remove GIST can cure a patient of the cancer. ​​A surgeon's approach to treating GIST depends on many factors including the size of the tumor, the location of the tumor and the patient's overall medical condition. During surgery, any section of the gastrointestinal tract impacted by GIST may be removed or resected.

For tumors located in difficult areas of the stomach, doctors at Winship have developed a minimally invasive procedure that uses both laparoscopy and endoscopy at the same time. In many cases, this procedure leads to the complete and safe removal of the tumor with fewer complications and fewer chances of long-term problems.

Targeted/biologic therapies are another common treatment option for GIST. Targeted therapies are drugs that more selectively target cancer cells. In this kind of personalized medicine, doctors identify unique characteristics of tumors that make them vulnerable to known drugs so therapy can be tailored to an individual’s cancer.

Depending on the stage of your disease, your treating physician may perform additional molecular testing of your tumor to help identify the best treatment for your cancer. Targeted therapies also tend to have fewer side effects than chemotherapy. Targeted therapies are used in combination with surgery or alone as a treatment for GIST.

For tumors that are too advanced or have spread to other areas of the body, targeted drug therapy is the first line of treatment. Imatinib (Gleevec) is an example of a targeted therapy drug that is used for more advanced tumors.

If the tumor has spread to the liver and surgery is not an option, ablation and embolization may be used. Ablation uses extreme heat or cold to destroy a tumor. During an embolization, substances are injected into the tumor’s main blood supply so that blood flow to the tumor is stopped, effectively destroying the tumor.

Besides standard targeted therapies, participating in clinical trials may be an option in certain situations. Clinical trials provide patients access to new medications that are being developed to treat GIST. Winship is Georgia’s only NCI-designated Comprehensive Cancer Center, which offers patients the latest clinical trials being done to treat gastrointestinal cancer and GIST.

At Winship, each patient is carefully considered to see whether they qualify for a clinical trial using innovative treatment methods.

Besides the advanced care and treatment methods, Winship also offers a supportive oncology team of specialized doctors and nurses who can help with the physical, psychological and emotional aspects of living with cancer, including symptom management and counseling. We know that a cancer diagnosis is scary and stressful. That’s why Winship’s counselors, nurse navigators, dietitians and social service professionals are with you every step of the way.