Dr. Tap on Combined KIT and CTLA-4 Blockade in Patients with GIST

William D. Tap, MD, Chief, Sarcoma Medical Oncology Service, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, discusses the idea of using combined KIT and CTLA-4 blockade in patients with refractory GIST and other advanced sarcomas.

Tap says the rationale behind this study stems from research that showed that when GIST respond to imatinib, there is an important immune-mediated response that occurs. Research has also shown that an immune response is often responsible for the development of resistance to drugs such as imatinib. Tap says if a checkpoint inhibitor is given after a TKI, an improvement in the immune response is seen.

In this phase I study, dasatinib was combined with ipilimumab to treat patients with GIST and other sarcomas. Tap says the purpose of this study was to discover the correct dose. As drug resistance makes GIST difficult to treat, Tap is hoping that combining drugs such as dastinib and ipilimumab may be a new option for patients.