PT  - JOURNAL ARTICLE
AU  - Roberts, Riyaadh
AU  - Govender, Dhirendra
TI  - Gene of the month: <em>KIT</em>
AID  - 10.1136/jclinpath-2015-203207
DP  - 2015 Sep 01
TA  - Journal of Clinical Pathology
PG  - 671--674
VI  - 68
IP  - 9
4099  - http://jcp.bmj.com/content/68/9/671.short
4100  - http://jcp.bmj.com/content/68/9/671.full
SO  - J Clin Pathol2015 Sep 01; 68
AB  - Deranged pathway activation and KIT mutations occur in numerous solid and haematological malignancies, with gain-of-function mutations being the most common demonstrable abnormality. Through a complex series of interactions, activation of the KIT receptor tyrosine kinase leads to cell survival, evasion of apoptosis, angiogenesis, dysregulated cell cycle control and promotion of tumourigenesis. The KIT receptor tyrosine kinase is a well-studied therapeutic target in human malignancies. The KIT mutational status of a neoplasm plays an important role in predicting the response to targeted therapies. In this article we outline the structure, function and mutations of the KIT gene, its role in various neoplasms, therapeutic impacts and the role that these play in clinical patient outcome.