MAPKAP Kinase 2 Overexpression Influences Prognosis in Gastrointestinal Stromal Tumors and Associates with Copy Number Variations on Chromosome 1 and Expression of p38 MAP Kinase and ETV1

Abstract

ETV1 is not universally overexpressed in GIST and seems to also be induced by pathways other than KIT mutation. Nevertheless, its clinical relevance is low. Overexpression of ETV1 inhibitor MAPKAPK2 is associated with shorter survival in GIST, indicating a clinically relevant role of this gene not reported previously. Patients with low-risk GISTs showing MAPKAPK2 overexpression might profit from early adjuvant tyrosine kinase inhibitor therapy.