An enhanced risk-group stratification system for more practical prognostication of clinically malignant gastrointestinal stromal tumors

摘要

Recent breakthroughs regarding the oncogenesis of gastrointestinal stromal tumors (GISTs) have led to the wider use of imatinib mesylate in the treatment of advanced GISTs. However, the role of imatinib in an adjuvant setting has yet to be established, mainly owing to the lack of an accurate system to prognosticate recurrences and/or metastases. The aims of this study were to identify factors prognostic for an unfavorable postoperative outcome, and to enhance the current NIH-consensus risk-group stratification system (Fletcher's system).