Aim: To examine the prevalence and prognostic significance of C-kit gene mutation and analysis the correlation of C-kit gene mutation and the clinicalpathologic parameters of GISTs.
Methods: Eighty-two GISTs were studied for the mutation of C-kit gene by PCR-SSCP, DNA sequence. Statistical comparison were used to analysis the correlation of C-kit gene mutation and clinicalpathology, clinical behavior, recurrence.
Results: (1) Mutation-positive and mutation-negative GISTs were 34 and 48,respectively; (2) Among these patients with C-kit mutation remained a significantly poor prognosis associated with 59% 3-year survival compared to those whose tumors did not; (3) Tumor size, PCNA index, mitotic cell number, presence of necrosis, microscopic invasion to adjacent tissues, recurrence and distant metastasis among mutation-positive and mutation-negative GISTs were significantly different.
Conclusion: C-kit mutation is a undoubtedly pivotal event in GIST and may be associated with poor prognosis. Evaluation of C-kit gene mutation may have both prognosis and therapeutic significances.