Paediatric GIST
GIST is not limited to adults; children are afflicted by this disease as well. GIST in children is significantly different than the form of the disease that affects adults. In children, GIST typically affects females and is located in the stomach. Additionally, these tumours in children often lack the KIT mutation as well as PDGFR, another mutation expressed in adult GIST. For this reason, research specific to children is necessary for scientists and oncologist to gain better understanding of how to diagnose paediatric patients with GIST, and to develop treatments to target the different needs of these children.