Gastrointestinal Stromal Tumors (GIST)

Alternative diagnostic terms
None

Common anatomical locations
GIST can occur anywhere in the gastrointestinal tract; however, approximately 54% of all GISTs arise in the stomach, 30% in the small bowel (including the duodenum), 5% in the colon and rectum, and about 1% in the esophagus.

Pathology comment
Gastrointestinal stromal tumor (GIST) is a mesenchymal neoplasm with variable behavior, characterized by differentiation towards the interstitial cells of Cajal.

Source
Goldblum JR, Paolo Dei Tos A, Hornick JL, Miettinen M, Wanless IR, Wardelmann E. Gastrointestinal stromal tumor. In: WHO Classification of Tumors Editorial Board. Soft tissue and bone tumors [Internet]. Lyon (France): International Agency for Research on Cancer; 2020 [2025 Jan 3]. (WHO Classification of Tumors Series, 5th ed.; vol. 3). Available from: https://tumorclassification.iarc.who.int/chapters/33

For diagnosis or treatment
Any center listed in the Sarcoma Centers Directory »

Patient advocacy
Any organization with an established program for patient triage, support, and education. See Patient Advocacy Directory »

Diagnostic-specific organizations:
The Life Raft Group (USA)
GSI-GIST Support International (USA)
GIST Support Österreich (Austria)
GIST & STS Alliance for Patients (Bulgaria) 
GIST and Sarcoma Patient Network (Finland)
Friends of Max (India)
GIST Patients Organisation (Israel)
AIG Associazione Iltaliana GIST (Italy)
Greek Patients’ Association (Macedonia)
Stowarzyszenie Pomocy Chorym na GIST (Poland)
Alianza GIST (South America)
GIST Sverige (Switzerland)
GIST Cancer UK (United Kingdom)
PAWS-GIST Clinic (United Kingdom)

Clinical trials
SARC Clinical Trial – SARC044 Gastrointestinal stromal tumor (GIST)
Find clinical trials worldwide »