Perioperative tyrosine kinase inhibitors for GIST: standard ... or an idea that needs further investigation?

Excellent safety, efficacy, and tolerability profiles have resulted in the rapid integration of oral tyrosine kinase inhibitors into most facets of the treatment of gastrointestinal stromal tumors (GIST). With these agents having firmly established themselves in the treatment of advanced unresectable disease, there is now a growing body of literature concerning their use in the perioperative setting. Three distinct GIST management scenarios currently exist that require close collaboration between surgeon and medical oncologist: adjuvant therapy, neoadjuvant therapy, and development of drug resistance.