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KIT gene - Cancer risk, management, and testing for genetic mutations

Associated Syndrome Name: KIT-associated cancer risk

KIT Summary Cancer Risk Table

Cancer	Genetic Cancer Risk
Other	Elevated Risk

KIT gene Overview

KIT-associated cancer risk 1, 2

Mutations in the KIT gene have been identified in a few families with gastrointestinal stromal tumors (GIST).
Based on these case reports, there is some evidence that individuals with KIT mutations have a significantly increased risk for GIST. The exact size of this risk is unknown.
Mutations in the KIT gene can cause mast cells (a type of immune cell) to build up excessively in the body, leading to symptoms such as itching, swelling, and severe allergic reactions. This condition is known as mastocytosis.
Individuals with KIT mutations may have abnormal pigmentation, characterized by patches of lighter or darker skin and hair.
There are currently no guidelines for the medical management of individuals with mutations in KIT. Since information about the cancer risks associated with KIT mutations is relatively new, and there is uncertainty about the best ways to reduce these risks, it may be appropriate to interpret these results in consultation with cancer genetics professionals who have expertise in this emerging area of knowledge.

KIT gene Cancer Risk Table

Cancer Type	Age Range	Cancer Risk	Risk for General Population
Gastrointestinal Stromal Tumors (GIST)	To age 801, 2, 3	Elevated risk	<0.1%

KIT Cancer Risk Management Table

The overview of medical management options provided is a summary of professional society guidelines. The most recent version of each guideline should be consulted for more detailed and up-to-date information before developing a treatment plan for a particular patient.

This overview is provided for informational purposes only and does not constitute a recommendation. While the medical society guidelines summarized herein provide important and useful information, medical management decisions for any particular patient should be made in consultation between that patient and his or her healthcare provider and may differ from society guidelines based on a complete understanding of the patient’s personal medical history, surgeries and other treatments.

Cancer Type	Procedure	Age to Begin	Frequency (Unless otherwise indicated by findings)
Gastrointestinal Stromal Tumors (GIST)	Currently there are no medical management guidelines for gastrointestinal stromal tumor risk in mutation carriers. However, it is important to have awareness of and seek medical attention for symptoms such as GI bleeding, obstruction, abdominal pain, early satiety, and fatigue related to anemia.4	NA	NA
For Patients With A Cancer Diagnosis	For patients with a KIT mutation and a GIST diagnosis, targeted therapies may be available as a treatment option (e.g., tyrosine kinase inhibitors).1, 2, 4	NA	NA

Benefits of Testing for KIT Gene Mutations:

Testing for KIT gene mutations with the MyRisk^® Hereditary Cancer Test with RiskScore^® provides critical insights to patients and providers about potential hereditary cancer risk. Identifying a KIT gene mutation can help clarify whether a patient is at increased risk for certain cancers and guide proactive, personalized care planning. With definitive answers from the MyRisk Test, healthcare providers can better tailor screening, prevention, and management strategies, while patients gain clarity and confidence about their hereditary cancer risk. In addition, understanding a KIT gene mutation allows family members to consider their own hereditary cancer risk, supporting informed decision-making and potentially life-saving early interventions. Learn more about the MyRisk^® with RiskScore^® Hereditary Cancer Test.

Information for Family Members

The following information for Family Members will appear as part of the MMT for a patient found to have a mutation in the KIT gene.

This patient's relatives are at risk for carrying the same mutation(s) and associated cancer risks as this patient. Cancer risks for females and males who have this/these mutation(s) are provided below.

Family members should talk to a healthcare provider about genetic testing. Close relatives such as parents, children, brothers and sisters have the highest chance of having the same mutation(s) as this patient. Other more distant relatives such as cousins, aunts, uncles, and grandparents also have a chance of carrying the same mutation(s). Testing of at-risk relatives can identify those family members with the same mutation(s) who may benefit from surveillance and early intervention.

References

Ke H, et al. Germline mutations of KIT in gastrointestinal stromal tumor (GIST) and mastocytosis. Cell Biosci. 2016 Oct 18;6:55. PMID: 27777718.

Postow MA, et al. Inherited gastrointestinal stromal tumor syndromes: mutations, clinical features, and therapeutic implications. Clin Sarcoma Res. 2012 Oct 4;2(1):16. PMID: 23036227.

SEER*Explorer: An interactive website for SEER cancer statistics [Internet]. Surveillance Research Program, National Cancer Institute. [Cited 2025 Aug 12]. Available from https://seer.cancer.gov/explorer/.

Von Mehren M, et al. NCCN Clinical Practice Guidelines in Oncology®: Gastrointestinal Stromal Tumors. V 2.2024. July 31. Available at https://www.nccn.org.

Last Updated on 15-Sep-2025