Previous reports showed that Kit(mut) activates the PI3K–Akt pathway, STAT5 and the Mek–Erk pathway through phosphorylation15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21 (Supplementary Figures S6a–c), leading to autonomous proliferation of GIST cells. This evidence concerns the gene MAP2K7 and gastrointestinal stromal tumor.