GSUK helps to fund GIST research – 2012

On 20th August we were delighted to present our medical consultant, Professor Ian Judson, with a cheque for £20,000 to help support a new research project. Professor Judson plans to collect data on all the patients who are being or have been treated at the Royal Marsden Hospital, in order to study the correlation between the mutation present in the first tumour and the patient’s subsequent GIST journey. This will entail doing the mutation analysis on samples from the tumours where this is not yet known, and then collating the information on imatinib response duration and survival. The ultimate goal is to improve care for GIST patients, by learning more about the nature of the disease. What we need to know is the real incidence of primary mutations that respond poorly to imatinib and more about the influence of the mutation on the behaviour of the disease, some mutations may be resistant to treatment but nevertheless associated with a reasonably good outlook. GSUK’s donation will get the project started, but if anyone would like to make further donations, they should send their cheques, Gift Aided if possible to: The Treasurer GSUK.

In the picture (L to R): Tracy Hak, Prof Judson, Judith Robinson, Alison Dunlop (Specialist Nurse)

Posted in GIST News.