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The role of immune system in carcinogenesis represents fundamental events associated with cancer eradication; however, tumor evolution is connected with various mechanisms of tumor evasion and progression of cancer. Based on recent evidence, phytochemicals are directly associated with immunomodulation of the innate and adaptive immunity via different mechanisms of action including stimulation and amplification of immune cells, humoral compartments, and associated molecules. This comprehensive study focuses on immunomodulating potential of phytochemicals (mixture in plants or separately such as individual phytochemical) and their impact on regulation of immune response during cancer development, immune tolerance, and immune escape. Clinical application of phytochemicals as modulators of host immunity against cancer may represent perspective approach in anticancer therapy.

Single nucleotide polymorphisms can create a genetic microenvironment in some tumors that affects the course of treatment, resistance, etc. Whether single nucleotide polymorphisms have an impact on gastrointestinal stromal tumor (GIST) development and disease progression is not yet accurately verified. KIT SNPM541L in exon 10 correlates with a worse prognosis of many cancers. The impact of KIT SNPM541L in GISTs is relatively unknown and, therefore, its analyses could have potential in patient therapy and could provide more detailed information on tumor character, clinical presentation, or tumor behavior in treatment. The aim of the study was the analysis of the biological and clinical significance of the KIT SNPM541L polymorphism in exon 10. Paraffin sample tissues were obtained from the National GIST Register in Martin. Retrospective samples from 177 GIST patients were divided into several groups. Detection of SNPM541L was performed by Sanger sequencing. Statisitical analyses were performed to determine the prevalence of KIT SNPM541L in the Slovak GIST cohort, to search for correlation between c-KIT status and clinicopathological, molecular and biological data. Overall, 29 samples out of 177 showed KIT SNPM541L polymorphism. Our results do not support the association between KIT SNPM541L and increased risk of relapse in localized primary GISTs. Additionally, we found a positive correlation between KIT SNPM541L occurrence and earlier onset of relapse in PDGFRa and WT subgroup of GISTs.