What causes GIST?
A protein called KIT—when abnormal—is thought to be one of the major causes of GIST. Normal cells have a limited life span. The KIT protein, which is located on the surface of normal cells, sends a signal inside the cells that tells them to grow and multiply only as needed. When KIT becomes abnormal, its signal stays on constantly and cells become cancerous and continue to grow and multiply. Cancerous GIST cells have a survival “advantage” because they grow and multiply faster and live longer than the normal surrounding cells. The longer the cancerous cells live, the more potential they have to become dangerous, and the more likely they are to spread to other parts of the body.
