Disease overview

Gastrointestinal stromal tumors (GISTs) are relatively common mesenchymal neoplasms that develop in the gastrointestinal tract of dogs. Currently, not much is known about the pathogenesis of these tumors. Most frequently, GISTs occur in the cecum, the small intestine, and the stomach. Most GISTs are sporadic, but there are reports of familial GIST syndromes in humans. Due to the disease pathology similarity between dogs and humans, the existence of familial GIST syndromes is also suspected in dogs. In humans, the same mutations in the gene KIT have been implicated as somatic driver mutations in the sporadicly occurring GIST, as well as germline mutations found in familial GIST syndrome, suggesting some degree of heritability in GIST predisposition.

Gene name

KIT

Inheritance

Complex

Signs and symptoms

Dogs with GIST can present with lethargy, anorexia, diarrhea, and occasional abdominal distension due to tumors.

How is it diagnosed

A biopsy needs to be obtained. Leiomyosarcoma and GIST have similar histology characteristics and immunohistochemical staining (IHC) is needed to differentiate between these 2 entities. Positive reactivity for KIT (cluster of differentiation [CD]117) is the gold standard for diagnosis of canine GIST.

Breeds at higher risk

Citations

Gregory-Bryson E, Bartlett E, Kiupel M, Hayes S, Yuzbasiyan-Gurkan V. Canine and human gastrointestinal stromal tumors display similar mutations in c-KIT exon 11. BMC Cancer. 2010 Oct 15;10:559. doi: 10.1186/1471-2407-10-559. PMID: 20950418; PMCID: PMC2970610.

Irie M, Tomiyasu H, Tsujimoto H, Kita C, Kagawa Y. Prognostic factors for dogs with surgically resected gastrointestinal stromal tumors. J Vet Med Sci. 2021 Sep 27;83(9):1481-1484. doi: 10.1292/jvms.20-0727. Epub 2021 Jul 28. PMID: 34321378; PMCID: PMC8498832.

Takanosu M, Amano S, Kagawa Y. Analysis of c-KIT exon 11 mutations in canine gastrointestinal stromal tumours. Vet J. 2016 Jan;207:118-123. doi: 10.1016/j.tvjl.2015.10.051. Epub 2015 Nov 2. PMID: 26631948.

Disclaimer

Disease diagnosis and treatment should always be performed by a veterinarian. The following information is for educational purposes only.