Imatinib mesylate targets mutated KIT oncoproteins in gastrointestinal stromal tumor (GIST) and achieves a clinical response in 80% of patients. The mechanism is believed to depend predominantly on the inhibition of KIT-driven signals for tumor cell survival and proliferation. Using a mouse model of spontaneous GIST, we found that the immune system contributes substantially to the anti-tumor effects of imatinib. Imatinib therapy activated CD8+ T cells and induced regulatory T cell (T reg) apoptosis within the tumor by reducing tumor cell expression of the immunosuppressive enzyme indoleamine 2,3-dioxygenase (Ido). Concurrent immunotherapy augmented the efficacy of imatinib in mouse GIST. In freshly obtained human GIST specimens, the T cell profile correlated with imatinib sensitivity and IDO expression. Thus, T cells are critical to the anti-tumor effects of imatinib in GIST and concomitant immunotherapy may further improve outcome in human cancers treated with targeted agents.

Mutations of c-KIT causing spontaneous activation of the KIT receptor kinase are associated with sporadic adult human mastocytosis (SAHM) and with human gastrointestinal stromal tumors. We have classified KIT-activating mutations as either "enzymatic site" type (EST) mutations, affecting the structure of the catalytic portion of the kinase, or as "regulatory" type (RT) mutations, affecting regulation of an otherwise normal catalytic site. Using COS cells expressing wild-type or mutant KIT, 2 compounds, STI571 and SU9529, inhibited wild-type and RT mutant KIT at 0.1 to 1 M but did not significantly inhibit the Asp816Val EST mutant associated with SAHM, even at 10 M. Using 2 subclones of the HMC1 mast cell line, which both express KIT with an identical RT mutation but which differ in that one also expresses the Asp816Val EST mutation, both compounds inhibited the RT mutant KIT, thereby suppressing proliferation and producing apoptosis in the RT mutant-only cell line. Neither compound suppressed activation of Asp816Val EST mutant KIT, and neither produced apoptosis or significantly suppressed proliferation of the cell line expressing the Asp816Val mutation. These studies suggest that currently available KIT inhibitors may be useful in treat-