Avapritinib is a medication used for the treatment of tumors due to one specific rare mutation: It is specifically intended for adults with unresectable or metastatic gastrointestinal stromal tumor that harbor a platelet-derived growth factor receptor alpha exon 18 mutation.

Ripretinib is an investigational broad-spectrum KIT and PDGFRα inhibitor in development for the treatment of patients with advanced gastrointestinal stromal tumors (GIST).

During this webcast presentation, Dr. Michael Heinrich will discuss these two new treatment options for advanced GIST. Dr. Heinrich will explain how each of these drugs works to target mutations for which there has previously been no targeted treatment. He will also address key questions for GIST patients concerning the coronavirus.

About the Presenter:

Dr. Michael Heinrich

Michael Heinrich, M.D.
Professor of Medicine and Cell/Developmental Biology
OHSU School of Medicine

Dr. Heinrich earned his medical degree from Johns Hopkins School of Medicine in Baltimore and completed both his residency training and fellowship in hematology/medical oncology at OHSU.

Dr. Heinrich’s research, like much of the work at the Knight Cancer Institute, revolves around a basic, yet complex premise. You have to understand what is broken in order to fix it. That’s why Dr. Heinrich is intently focused on identifying the molecular targets that cause cancer, which is essential to the development of better and less toxic therapies. He is recognized internationally for groundbreaking research discoveries that have improved care for patients with gastrointestinal stromal tumors, and his research has implications for many types of cancer.

Disclaimer: Information provided in this webcast is not intended as a substitute for your physician’s guidance and care.