Description : Gastrointestinal stromal tumors are mesenchymal tumors found in the gastrointestinal
tract that originate from the interstitial cells of Cajal, the pacemaker cells that
regulate peristalsis in the digestive tract. Approximately 70% of GISTs develop in
the stomach, 20% in the small intestine, and less than 10% in the esophagus, colon,
and rectum.;
Inheritance : Autosomal dominant; Isolated cases;
Molecular basis : Caused by mutation in the platelet-derived growth factor receptor alpha gene (PDGFRA,
173490.0001); Caused by mutation in the V-KIT Hardy-Zuckerman 4 feline sarcoma viral oncogene homolog
gene (KIT, 164920.0011);