Gastrointestinal stromal tumors increase risk for additional malignancies

Patients with gastrointestinal stromal tumors faced an increased risk for developing additional cancers before and after their diagnosis, according to results of a SEER analysis.“Only 5% of patients with gastrointestinal stromal tumors have a hereditary disorder that predisposes them to develop multiple benign and malignant tumors,” Jason K. Sicklick, MD, of the division of surgical oncology at the UC San Diego Moores Cancer Center, said in a press release. “The research indicates that these patients may develop cancers outside of these syndromes, but the exact mechanisms are not yet known.”