Drug for rare gastrointestinal cancer approved by FDA

OHSU patient began treatment with a tumor more than 15 inches in length

By Amanda Gibbs January 21, 2020 Portland, Oregon

Downloads

Michael Heinrich, M.D., at OHSU, Jan. 8, 2020, wears a "Slay GIST" hat during an appointment with a patient. Heinrich consulted with the company that developed a drug treating a rare stomach cancer, GIST. The drug was recently approved by the FDA. (OHSU/Kristyna Wentz-Graff)

OHSU/Kristyna Wentz-Graff

GIST trial

Diana Dowd, center, has an appointment with Michael Heinrich, M.D., at OHSU, Jan. 8, 2020. Dowd took part in a clinical trial for a drug treating a rare stomach cancer, GIST. The drug that was recently approved by the FDA. (OHSU/Kristyna Wentz-Graff)

OHSU/Kristyna Wentz-Graff

GIST trial

Diana Dowd, left, talks with Michael Heinrich, M.D., during an appointment at OHSU, Jan. 8, 2020. Dowd took part in a clinical trial treating a rare stomach cancer, GIST, which was recently approved by the FDA. Along with Dowd is her friend, Lauri Roskamp, center. (OHSU/Kristyna Wentz-Graff)

OHSU/Kristyna Wentz-Graff

GIST trial

Diana Dowd, center, talks with medical staff during an appointment at OHSU, Jan. 8, 2020. Dowd took part in a clinical trial treating a rare stomach cancer, GIST, which was recently approved by the FDA. Along with Dowd is her friend, Lauri Roskamp, right. (OHSU/Kristyna Wentz-Graff)

OHSU/Kristyna Wentz-Graff

Michael Heinrich, M.D.

Michael Heinrich, M.D., professor in the division of hematology and medical oncology at the OHSU Knight Cancer Institute; physician at the Portland Veterans Affairs Medical Center, November 1, 2017. (OHSU/Kristyna Wentz-Graff)

GIST trial

Diana Dowd, center, has an appointment with Michael Heinrich, M.D., at OHSU, Jan. 8, 2020. Dowd took part in a clinical trial for a drug treating a rare stomach cancer, GIST. The drug that recently approved by the FDA. (OHSU/Kristyna Wentz-Graff)

OHSU/Kristyna Wentz-Graff

GIST trial

Michael Heinrich, M.D., left, talks with Diana Dowd, center and her friend Lauri Roskamp, during an appointment at OHSU, Jan. 8, 2020. Dowd took part in a clinical trial treating a rare stomach cancer, GIST, which was recently approved by the FDA. (OHSU/Kristyna Wentz-Graff)

OHSU/Kristyna Wentz-Graff

GIST trial

Diana Dowd, center, talks with her friend, Lauri Roskamp, right, during an appointment at OHSU, Jan. 8, 2020. Dowd took part in a clinical trial treating a rare stomach cancer, GIST, which was recently approved by the FDA. The scans show a comparison of Dowd's stomach tumors after, left, and before her treatment. (OHSU/Kristyna Wentz-Graff) EDITOR'S NOTE: PERSONAL INFORMATION HAS BEEN REMOVED FROM THE XRAYS. NO OTHER CONTENT HAS BEEN MODIFIED.

OHSU/Kristyna Wentz-Graff