GISTs, or gastrointestinal stromal tumors, are tumors that develop in the gastrointestinal tract. GIST is a type of cancer that begins as a small tumor in the stomach or small intestine. A GIST can grow slowly in some instances, while in some cases, it quickly sprouts and proliferates.
Gastrointestinal stromal tumors can be either cancerous or non-cancerous.
Causes of GIST:
The specific cause of the gastrointestinal stromal tumor is unknown. However, they appear to be linked to a variation in the KIT protein’s activity. As cells proliferate out of order, cancer occurs. As the cells proceed to grow out of control, they create a mass known as a tumor.
Factors that increase your chances of developing Gastrointestinal stromal tumors are explained below:
Everything which raises a person’s chances of acquiring a tumor is referred to as a risk factor. Although risk factors can impact the formation of a tumor, the majority of them do not cause it. Prior knowledge regarding the various risk factors and discussing these with your doctor may assist you in making better lifestyle choices and health-care decisions.
The majority of GISTs emerge ad hoc, that is, for no apparent reason. Other than the genetic syndromes listed below, doctors are in very few cases able to identify any specific risk factor for people diagnosed with a GIST.
The following factors may make you prone to develop a GIST:
● Age:
GIST most commonly affects people between the ages of 50 and 80. GISTs can occur in people below the age of 40, but they are exceptionally rare.
● Genes:
GISTs occur mostly without warning and have no known etiology. Some individuals, meanwhile, are born with a genetic mutation that causes GISTs.
The following are some of the genes and conditions linked to GISTs:
1. Neurofibromatosis
A deficiency in the NF1 gene causes this hereditary illness, also known as Von Recklinghausen’s disease (VRD). The disease can be passed on from one generation to the next, but it isn’t always inherited. People with this syndrome have higher chances to develop benign nerve tumors at a young age. Dark spots on the skin and freckling in the groin or underarms are common symptoms of these tumors. This condition also raises your chances of getting a GIST.
2. Succinate dehydrogenase (SDH) genes mutations:
GISTs (most commonly in the stomach) and paragangliomas (nerve tumors) are more common in people with this rare hereditary disorder. When these people are in their adolescent stage, or their early twenties, GISTs are common. They even have a higher chance of having several GISTs. GISTs are more likely to form in people who have mutations in the SDHB and SDHC genes.
3. Gastrointestinal stromal tumor syndrome is a condition that runs in families:
A faulty KIT gene passed down from father to child is the most common cause of this condition. GISTs are more likely to develop as a result of this uncommon disorder. GISTs can develop at an earlier age than the general population. Multiple GISTs can develop in people with this illness throughout their lives.
These are the various risk factors associated with GISTs. Timely check-ups and good lifestyle choices will assist you in leading a healthier life.
