Dr. Jon Trent, director of the bone and soft-tissue program at the University of Miami Sylvester Cancer Center, the invited discussant, commented that "molecular subtyping should be required for all GIST patients."
"Most of all, I think we really need a tool other than the current version of RECIST [Response Evaluation Criteria in Solid Tumors], in order to really identify early makers of response and early markers of progression in our GIST patients," he said.
RECIST criteria often fail to provide useful information about early responses to therapy in GIST, he said.
The study was supported by the National Cancer Institute. Dr. Demetri disclosed serving as a consultant or adviser to ARIAD, Bayer, Novartis, and Pfizer; receiving research funding from Bayer, Novartis, and Pfizer; and receiving other remuneration from Novartis. Dr. Trent disclosed consulting/advising for Ariad, Bayer/Onyx, Novartis, and Pfizer, and receiving honoraria from Pfizer.