Dr. Trent on the Need for Novel Combination Strategies in Metastatic GIST

Jonathan C. Trent, MD, PhD, professor and associate director for Clinical Research at the Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of Miami Health System, discusses the need to develop novel combination strategies for the treatment of patients with metastatic gastrointestinal stromal tumors (GIST).

Currently, the main therapeutic advances that have been made for patients with metastatic GIST include improved KIT inhibitors and PDGFRA inhibitors, says Trent. However, in order to push the field forward, novel combination strategies with different mechanisms of action and non-overlapping toxicities are needed, Trent explains.

For example, therapies that target BCL-2 through a BH3 mimetic or autophagy inhibitors, such as hydroxychloroquine (Plaquenil) or similar agents, could have utility in combination regimens, Trent concludes.