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Synchronous colorectal adenocarcinoma and gastrointestinal stromal tumor (GIST)

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Abstract

Background

Little is known about the synchronous occurrence of gastrointestinal stromal tumors (GISTs) and other gastrointestinal tumors. We present two cases of an invasive colon cancer with a synchronous small-bowel GIST; immunohistochemistry studies were performed to evaluate possible genetic similarities.

Methods

This paper reports two cases of synchronous GISTs and colorectal cancer (CRC) with immunohistochemistry analysis of c-Kit expression. This paper is also a review of the existing literature on the association of GISTs and CRC and the role of c-Kit in CRC.

Results

In the last 2 years, we observed two patients with synchronous CRCs and GISTs of the small bowel. The GISTs were incidentally discovered during the work-up for CRCs and excised at the time of the colon resection. Immunohistochemistry study did not reveal an expression of c-Kit in CRCs. Clinical implications of the association between these two neoplasms are described in this paper.

Conclusions

Synchronous CRC and GIST has been more frequently reported. Because of the limited number of cases, we cannot exclude an incidental relationship. The genetic pathways of tumorigenesis appear different for the two neoplasms. Further studies are needed to clarify a possible role of c-Kit in the development of colonic adenocarcinomas.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Surgery, University of Chicago Hospitals, 5841 S. Maryland Avenue, Chicago, IL, 60637, USA

    Marcovalerio Melis & Alessandro Fichera

  2. Department of Pathology, University of Chicago Hospitals, 5841 S. Maryland Avenue, Chicago, IL, 60637, USA

    Robert Anders & Peter Christiansen

  3. Department of Surgery, The University of Texas M. D. Anderson Cancer Center, 1515 Holcombe Blvd Unit 444, Houston, TX, 77030, USA

    Eugene A. Choi

Authors
  1. Marcovalerio Melis
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  2. Eugene A. Choi
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  3. Robert Anders
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  4. Peter Christiansen
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  5. Alessandro Fichera
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Correspondence to Alessandro Fichera.

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Melis, M., Choi, E.A., Anders, R. et al. Synchronous colorectal adenocarcinoma and gastrointestinal stromal tumor (GIST). Int J Colorectal Dis 22, 109–114 (2007). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00384-006-0089-6

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00384-006-0089-6

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