Gastrointestinal Stromal Tumors may Lead to Cancers Outside Their Syndromes

Patients suffering from gastrointestinal tumors are at increased risk of contracting other cancers, revealed a study. The results indicated that one in 5.8 patients with gastrointestinal stromal tumors (GIST) will develop additional malignancies before and after their diagnosis. Specifically, patients with GIST are more likely to develop other sarcomas, non-Hodgkin's lymphoma, carcinoid tumors, melanoma, colorectal, esophageal, pancreatic, hepatobiliary, prostate and renal cell cancers.

Jason Sicklick, assistant professor of surgery at the University of California's San Diego School of Medicine, said, "The research indicates that these patients may develop cancers outside these syndromes but the exact mechanisms are not yet known. Only 5% of patients with gastrointestinal stromal tumors have a hereditary disorder that predisposes them to develop multiple benign and malignant tumors. Further studies are needed to understand the connection between GIST and other cancers."

When compared to the United States population, the researchers found that people with GIST had a 44% increased prevalence of cancers occurring before a GIST diagnosis and a 66% higher risk of developing cancers after diagnosis. The most common tumors were those of the genitourinary tract, breast, respiratory and blood.

Co-author James Murphy from the University of California said, "Patients diagnosed with gastrointestinal stromal tumours may warrant consideration for additional screenings based on the other cancers that they are most susceptible to contract."

The study is published in Cancer.

Source: Medindia