KIT or PDGFRA mutations may initiate the start of GIST. Epigenetic changes, which sometimes may be affected by environmental factors, could activate the KIT or PDGFRA mutated cells to be more aggressive GISTs.

I guess the following might be more accurate.

KIT or PDGFRA mutations may initiate the start of GIST. Epigenetic changes, which sometimes may be affected by environmental factors, could activate the KIT or PDGFRA mutated cells to be more aggressive GISTs.

Thank you.

Y.
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Thank you so much Y. Do I have your permission to share this? I believe it's an important study.

If I understand correctly...

Epigenetic changes from environmental factors may initiate the start of GIST. Those changes could activate the mutated cells KIT or PDGFRA to be expressed.
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Dear b.

Thank you for your interest in our study.

The majority of GISTs have activating mutations in KIT or PDGFRA tyrosine-kinase receptor genes.  These mutations are thought to be part of the initiation phase of GIST development and other genetic and epigenetic abnormalities may be involved when GISTs progress to a malignant phenotype.

We conducted, for the first time, genome-wide DNA methylation analysis in GISTs.  Our extensive analyses revealed that DNA methylation accumulates on a genome-wide basis during tumor progression.

Both genetic alterations in epigenetic regulators (i.e. epigenetic enzymes) and environmental factors induce epigenetic alterations, which may affect the phenotype of tumor cells via alteration of gene expression.

Thank you again.

Y.

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Dr Y.
I found your study on the epigenetics of GIST fascinating and very helpful.

Whats the role of epigenetics in GIST tumors? Can the mutated cells that causes GISTs be turned on or turned off? My understanding of epigenetics is many factors like out environment can cause genes to be expressed or silenced.