Gastrointestinal Cancers Symposium Daily News

Featured Stories

GI Symposium Features Research That Establishes New Benchmarks in Standard Care

Oncologists, surgeons, radiation oncologists, gastroenterologists, and other stakeholders involved in the prevention, detection, and treatment of gastrointestinal cancers congregated in San Francisco last week to attend the 2013 Gastrointestinal (GI) Cancers Symposium, marking the 10-year anniversary of the annual meeting. In the last 10 years, nearly 24,000 people from 109 countries have attended the Symposium, and 2013 saw an additional estimated 2,775 clinicians added to that number. In addition, much progress has been made in research for GI cancers. Read More

Nab-Paclitaxel Plus Gemcitabine New Standard of Care for First-Line Metastatic Pancreatic Cancer

The addition of nab-paclitaxel to gemcitabine in patients with metastatic pancreatic cancer yielded statistically significant and clinically meaningful improvements in all endpoints across all subgroups compared with gemcitabine alone, according to the results of the randomized phase III MPACT trial. Read More

REGARD: Ramucirumab Potential New Second-line Treatment Option for Metastatic Gastric or GEJ Adenocarcinoma

Although there is currently no approved second-line therapy for advanced cancers of the esophagus and stomach, a novel monoclonal antibody targeting vascular endothelial grown factor receptor-2 (VEGFR-2) shows potential for filling this treatment gap. Findings from the REGARD trial—the largest phase III trial of second-line therapy for advanced gastric or gastroesophageal junction (GEJ) adenocarcinoma—demonstrate that ramucirumab significantly improves overall survival and progression-free survival following progression on first-line chemotherapy. Read More

Insight Into PanIN Pathobiology Opens Door for Pancreatic Ductal Adenocarcinoma Prevention

New research suggests that Th17 cells, a subtype of CD4+ T-helper cells actively involved in inflammation, play a star role in promoting early pancreatic tumorigenesis. These cells flock to the pancreas during chronic pancreatitis and spew out the IL-17A cytokine, which then increases pancreatic intraepithelial neoplasia (PanIN) initiation and progression. Read More

S-1 Considered New Standard of Care in Japan for Resected Pancreatic Cancer

Adjuvant chemotherapy with the oral fluoropyrimidine S-1 clearly beat out gemcitabine in a randomized phase III study conducted by the Japanese Adjuvant Study Group of Pancreatic Cancer (JASPAC 01 study). Read More

Decade of Discoveries Leads to Decreased Diagnosis, Mortality Rates

Multiple discoveries, many either originally presented by their lead researchers or discussed by invited experts at the Gastrointestinal Cancers Symposium, changed clinical practice in colorectal cancer in the past decade. Investigators working in laboratories and clinics, based both in academia and industry and often working together, have made and are continuing to make discoveries leading to improvements across the spectrum from prevention to treatment. Read More

Expert Editorials

Current Recommendations, Overview of Comorbidities in Surveillance for HCC

With hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) incident rates increasing in most countries, Dr. Coleman Smith explores routine screening for HCC and the need for a multidisciplinary approach to its management.

Adjuvant Treatment for Gastric Cancer: Time for a Change

Drs. Fernanda Capareli and Paulo M. Hoff examine the contrasting approaches to gastric cancer in East Asia, Europe, and the United States, focusing particularly on the use of adjuvant chemotherapy, which is more common in Eastern countries.

Neoadjuvant Chemotherapy or Chemoradiotherapy in Resectable Esophageal Cancer: A Lot of Data, Little Clarity

There has been considerable debate in defining the optimal therapeutic approach to patients with resectable esophageal cancer. Drs. Manisha Palta, Christopher G. Willett, and Brian Czito explore the controversy.

Upcoming Changes to Practical Radiation Oncology

Practical Radiation Oncology (PRO) remains committed to its mission of improving the quality of radiation oncology practice. Learn about some of the changes coming to PRO in the coming months and years.

ASCO Announces New Chief Medical Officer

ASCO recently announced the formation of an important new position within the Society, that of a Chief Medical Officer (CMO). After a 6-month search, a five-person committee comprised of ASCO Board of Directors members chose Richard L. Schilsky, MD, to fulfill this key role.

AGA Pledges to Educate the Public on the Misuse of Tests and Procedures

In December 2011, the American Gastroenterological Association (AGA) joined the American Board of Internal Medicine (ABIM) Foundation, Consumer Reports, and eight leading medical specialty societies to identify overuse or misuse of tests or procedures. The goal of the Choosing Wisely campaign is to help physicians, patients, and other healthcare stakeholders think and talk about overuse or misuse of health care resources in the United States.