TriangleFOR PATIENTS · SOURCE READING
Treatment of childhood gastrointestinal stromal tumor
Source: Childhood Gastrointestinal Stromal Tumors (PDQ®)–Patient Version, National Cancer Institute.
Source updated: May 13, 2025 · Captured 2026-09-09.
Selected source text with whitespace normalised. This Triangle page is not an NCI PDQ summary. Independent clinical review is pending.
There are different types of treatment for children and adolescents with GIST. You and your child's care team will work together to decide treatment. Many factors will be considered, such as your child's overall health, whether the tumor has changes to the KIT, PDGFRA, or SDH genes, and whether the cancer is newly diagnosed or has come back.
Your child's treatment plan will include information about the cancer, the goals of treatment, treatment options, and the possible side effects. It will be helpful to talk with your child's care team before treatment begins about what to expect. For help every step of the way, visit our booklet, Children with Cancer: A Guide for Parents.
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Types of treatment your child might have include:
Children with a GIST that has changes in the KIT or PDGFRA gene are treated with targeted therapy. Targeted therapy uses drugs or other substances to block the action of specific enzymes, proteins, or other molecules involved in the growth and spread of cancer cells. Imatinib and sunitinib are targeted therapies approved for adults with GIST and may be used in children and adolescents. Learn more about Targeted Therapy to Treat Cancer.
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Children with a GIST that is SDH-deficient are treated with surgery to remove the tumor. More surgery may be needed if an intestinal blockage or bleeding occurs.
If the cancer comes back after treatment, your child's doctor will talk with you about what to expect and possible next steps. There might be treatment options that may shrink the cancer or control its growth. If there are no treatments, your child can receive care to control symptoms from cancer so they can be as comfortable as possible.
Preserved source evidence · Independent clinical review pending · Not medical advice