Haematology and oncology: gastrointestinal stromal tumour therapy: practice question

A General Medicine question in the style of the NEET PG paper. Answer it first, then read why the right option is right and why each of the others is wrong.

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General Medicine · Haematology and oncology: gastrointestinal stromal tumour therapy

Sample item

A 55-year-old man has melaena. CT shows a 6 cm submucosal gastric mass. Biopsy shows spindle cells that are positive for CD117 (KIT). Which drug is the targeted therapy of choice?

Original practice item, not a recalled exam question. Nothing here is recorded.

The answer and the reasoning

D. Imatinib

Gastrointestinal stromal tumours arise from the interstitial cells of Cajal, most with activating KIT mutations. Imatinib inhibits the KIT tyrosine kinase and is used in unresectable, metastatic or high-risk disease.

Option by option

  • A. Cetuximab

    Cetuximab targets EGFR in colorectal and head and neck cancers.

  • B. Rituximab

    Rituximab targets CD20 on B-cell lymphomas.

  • C. Trastuzumab

    Trastuzumab targets HER2 in breast and gastric adenocarcinoma.

  • D. Imatinib (correct)

    Correct. Imatinib inhibits the KIT kinase driving these tumours.

Source note: Original NextPrep sample item — pending expert review. This item is original practice material awaiting independent expert review, so confirm important facts in a standard textbook.

More General Medicine questions

Questions about this General Medicine question

What is the answer to this General Medicine question?

The best answer is D, Imatinib. Gastrointestinal stromal tumours arise from the interstitial cells of Cajal, most with activating KIT mutations.

Why is "Cetuximab" not the answer?

Cetuximab targets EGFR in colorectal and head and neck cancers.

Why is "Rituximab" not the answer?

Rituximab targets CD20 on B-cell lymphomas.

Why is "Trastuzumab" not the answer?

Trastuzumab targets HER2 in breast and gastric adenocarcinoma.

What concept does this question test?

It tests Haematology and oncology: gastrointestinal stromal tumour therapy in General Medicine. Imatinib inhibits the KIT tyrosine kinase and is used in unresectable, metastatic or high-risk disease.

How hard is this question?

We tag it as an application question: it asks you to use a fact on a patient or a finding. The tag is our own editorial judgement, not an official difficulty rating, so read the reason for every option, not only the answer.

How should I study Haematology and oncology: gastrointestinal stromal tumour therapy?

For each disease know the classic presentation, the best test, and the first-line treatment. Then use the flashcards and the other General Medicine questions on this site to test what stuck.

Is this a real NEET PG question?

No. It is an original practice item (editorial status: sample, version 1). NextPrep does not publish recalled or leaked questions, and independent faculty review of this item has not been completed yet, so confirm important facts in a standard textbook.