GI CANCERS

Mike Cusnir, MD, co-director of gastrointestinal malignancies, Mount Sinai Medical Center, recently discussed the cases of 2 patients with metastatic colorectal cancer (mCRC).<br /> &nbsp;

Vinod P. Balachandran, MD, Surgical Oncologist, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, discusses an analysis to determine the unique antigen qualities of long-term survivors of pancreatic cancer&nbsp;during The Society for Immunotherapy of Cancer (SITC) 32nd&nbsp;Annual Meeting.

The researchers review intra-arterial therapies and the latest literature supporting their use, categorized by different tumor types.

Hans-Joachim Schmoll, MD, discusses&nbsp;updated CHARTA findings, the current role of chemotherapy in patients with metastatic CRC, and his predictions for the future CRC treatment landscape.

Cathy Eng, MD, discussed optimizing sequencing beyond disease progression in CRC

Johanna Bendell, MD, discusses&nbsp; the current and emerging treatment landscape of immunotherapy for patients with CRC.

Johanna C. Bendell, MD, director of GI Oncology Research at Sarah Cannon Research Institute, discusses using immunotherapy for the treatment of patients with colorectal cancer.

John L. Marshall, MD, chief, Division of Hematology/Oncology, Medstar Georgetown University Hospital director, Otto J. Ruesch Center for the Cure of Gastrointestinal Cancer, discusses the evolving paradigm of gastrointestinal cancers.

Davendra Sohal, MD, MPH, Department of Hematology and Medical Oncology, Cleveland Clinic, discusses the SWOG S1505 trial, which is exploring perioperative mFOLFIRINOX versus gemcitabine and nab-paclitaxel (Abraxane) in patients with resectable pancreatic adenocarcinoma.

In a presentation during the 2017 International Liver Cancer Association Annual Conference, Amit G. Singal, MD, discussed data surrounding the use of direct acting antivirals, a novel and completely oral hepatitis C therapy, which has been associated with a high response rate.

An overall response rate of 16% was demonstrated in patients with FGF 19 immunohistochemistry-positive hepatocellular carcinoma treated with BLU-554, which was higher than the response rates of 10% or less that are seen with the currently approved HCC treatments.

Researchers are seeking prognostic biomarkers for response to treatment with adjuvant sorafenib (Nexavar) in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma, according to a presentation during the&nbsp;2017 International Liver Cancer Association Annual Conference in Seoul, South Korea.

Encouraging results are being seen following the administration of cabozantinib (Cabometyx) in patients with carcinoid and pancreatic neuroendocrine tumors. Clinical benefit of the drug has been exhibited in patients enrolled in a prospective phase II trial, which was initiated in July 2012; however, a randomized phase III trial will be necessary for confirmation.

David Metz, MD, chair of the North American Neuroendocrine Tumor Society, discusses the focus on multidisciplinary care and exciting areas of research being presented during the 10th Annual NANETS Symposium.&nbsp;

As an experienced medical oncologist and clinical researcher specializing in the treatment of gastrointestinal tumors, Pamela Kunz, MD, says the upcoming 2017 North American Neuroendocrine Tumor Society (NANETS) Annual Symposium offers her a chance to not only expand her own knowledge of neuroendocrine tumor research, but also allows her to share her past experience with professionals just starting out in the field.

The 2017 North American Neuroendocrine Tumor Society (NANETS) Annual Symposium is kicking off tomorrow, October 19, in Philadelphia with a 3-day lineup of presentations sure to leave professionals in the neuroendocrine community with a better understanding of ongoing neuroendocrine tumor research efforts, a look at what is on the horizon, and an abundance of networking opportunities with a variety of specialists throughout their field.

Michael A. Morse, MD, recently discussed treatment decisions centered around the care of patients with metastatic colorectal cancer. Morse, professor of Medicine, Duke Cancer Institute, explained his treatment decisions in 2 case scenarios during a&nbsp;<em>Targeted Oncology</em>&nbsp;live case-based peer perspectives dinner.

Internationally recognized surgeon H. Richard Alexander, MD, FACS, has been appointed as the new chief surgical officer at Rutgers Cancer Institute of New Jersey. He will also be a professor of surgery in the Division of Surgical Oncology at the Rutgers Robert Wood Johnson Medical School and a part of the Gastrointestinal Oncology Program at the cancer institute when his position begins this fall, according to a press release from Rutgers Cancer Institute of New Jersey.

A look back at all the FDA news that occurred in the month of September.

A supplemental new drug application for lenvatinib as a frontline systemic treatment for patients with advanced hepatocellular carcinoma has been accepted by the FDA, acccording to a statement from Eisai,&nbsp;the company developing the therapy.

Manish A. Shah, MD, director of gastrointestinal oncology, Weill Cornell Medicine and New York-Presbyterian Hospital, discusses the differences between right- and left-sided colon cancer.

In the phase III KEYNOTE-177 trial, investigators are hoping to show that frontline treatment with the PD-1 inhibitor pembrolizumab (Keytruda) can improve progression-free survival compared with standard-of-care chemotherapy in patients with mismatch repair-deficient or microsatellite instability-high colorectal cancer.

Investigators aimed to evaluate the prognostic value of primary tumor location in patients with fully resected colon cancer, as well as its relationship to microsatellite instability-high (MSI-H), <em>RAS</em>, and <em>BRAF</em> mutational status, in a study presented at this year&#39;s World Congress on Gastrointestinal Cancer.

Davendra Sohal, MD, MPH, Department of Hematology and Medical Oncology, Cleveland Clinic, discusses the need for an ongoing study exploring mFOLFIRINOX versus gemcitabine and nab-paclitaxel (Abraxane) in patients with resectable pancreatic adenocarcinoma.

Heinz-Josef Lenz, MD, shares his excitement for&nbsp;findings from clinical studies on liquid biopsies, Immunoscore^&reg;, and primary tumor location in colorectal cancer.