Impact of Gastrointestinal Bleeding on Prognosis and Associated Risk Factors in Gastrointestinal Stromal Tumors: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

Background: Gastrointestinal stromal tumors (GISTs) are common mesenchymal tumors of the digestive tract. The impact of gastrointestinal bleeding on the prognosis of GISTs remains controversial. This study aims to evaluate the prognostic significance of gastrointestinal bleeding in GIST patients and analyze associated risk factors.

Methods: A systematic review and meta-analysis were conducted according to the PRISMA guidelines. PubMed, MEDLINE, Web of Science, EMBASE, and Cochrane Library databases were searched for relevant studies published up until December 31, 2023. The pooled hazard ratio (HR) with a 95% confidence interval (CI) was used to estimate the relationship between gastrointestinal bleeding and prognosis. Subgroup analyses were performed based on bleeding location and other risk factors.

Results: Twelve studies involving 3475 patients were included. Gastrointestinal bleeding significantly affected the prognosis of GIST patients, including recurrence-free survival (RFS) (HR = 1.57, 95% CI: 0.98-2.52, P < .01) and overall survival (OS) (HR = 3.04, 95% CI: 1.33-6.97, P < .01). Patients with gastric GIST bleeding had significantly worse prognoses (HR = 4.37, 95% CI: 2.36-8.11, P < .01), while small intestinal bleeding showed no significant difference. The bleeding risk was lower in the small intestine compared to the stomach (HR = .63, 95% CI: 0.48-0.83, P < .01). Age under 65, male gender, tumor size ≥5 cm, and mitotic index ≥5 HPF were identified as high-risk factors for GIST bleeding.

Conclusions: Gastrointestinal bleeding significantly impacts the prognosis of GIST patients, particularly in those with gastric bleeding.