GI CANCERS

Luis A. Diaz Jr, MD, head, Division of Solid Tumor Oncology, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, discusses the recent FDA approval of pembrolizumab (Keytruda) for microsatellite instability-high (MSI-H) colorectal cancer and other tumor types.

A large analysis of data comparing selective internal radiotherapy (SIRT) plus chemotherapy to chemotherapy did not show expected improvements in survival, but an unanticipated benefit was observed with SIRT in patients with metastatic colorectal cancer.

Overall survival was prolonged with treatment with ziv-aflibercept compared to placebo across subgroups of patients with metastatic colorectal cancer with wild-type and mutated <em>RAS, KRAS,</em> and <em>BRAF</em> genes.

Panitumumab has been approved by the FDA in combination with FOLFOX as a frontline treatment for patients with <em>RAS</em> wild-type metastatic colorectal cancer.

Treatment with lenvatinib in the first-line setting of unresectable hepatocellular carcinoma improved progression-free survival by 3.7 months and was noninferior for overall survival (OS) compared with sorafenib.

Yelena Y. Janjigian, MD, attending physician, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, discusses findings of CheckMate-032, a study of nivolumab (Opdivo) with or without ipilimumab (Yervoy) in patients with advanced/metastatic chemotherapy-refractory gastric, esophageal, or gastroesophageal junction cancer.

Options for treating patients with hepatocellular carcinoma may currently be limited, with most physicians turning to a tyrosine kinase inhibitor for advanced disease, but physicians may soon be able to choose between a TKI and immunotherapy.

Luis A. Diaz Jr., MD, head, Division of Solid Tumor Oncology, discusses pembrolizumab (Keytruda) therapy for microsatellite instability-high colorectal cancer and other tumor types.

Tanios Bekaii-Saab, MD, professor of Medicine, Mayo Clinic, discusses results of the CanStem111P trial, a phase III study of napabucasin plus nab-paclitaxel with gemcitabine in adult patients with metastatic pancreatic adenocarcinoma.

Drug manufacturer XBiotech has cancelled the phase III XCITE study of MABp1 (Hutruo; formerly Xilonix) in patients with advanced colorectal cancer, following a second prospectively planned, unblinded analysis.

Unresectable Metastatic Gastrointestinal Stromal Tumor

Unresectable Metastatic Gastrointestinal Stromal Tumor

Charles S. Fuchs, MD, MPH, professor of Medicine, director, Yale Cancer Center, and physician-in-chief, Smilow Cancer Hospital, discusses efficacy and safety results for pembrolizumab (Keytruda) monotherapy in patients with previously treated advanced gastric cancer.

Brian Wolpin, MD, MPH, has been named director of the Gastrointestinal Cancer Center at Dana-Farber Cancer Institute.

Nivolumab (Opdivo) has been granted a priority review designation by the FDA for use as a treatment for patients with hepatocellular carcinoma following prior sorafenib (Nexavar).

Pembrolizumab (Keytruda) has been granted a priority review by the FDA for the treatment of patients who have undergone at least 2 courses of chemotherapy for recurrent or advanced gastric or gastroesophageal junction adenocarcinoma.

Pembrolizumab (Keytruda) has been granted an accelerated approval by the FDA&nbsp;for the treatment of adult and pediatric patients with unresectable or metastatic, microsatellite instability-high or mismatch repair deficient solid tumors.

John L. Marshall, MD, chief, Division of Hematology and Oncology, Medstar Georgetown University Hospital, discusses a study exploring the molecular variances between rectal and left-sided colon cancers.

Results from a recent study showed patients with stage III colorectal cancer experienced a 42% lower chance of death and a trend toward reduced cancer recurrence if they maintained a healthy body weight, engaged in regular physical activity, and adopted other healthy lifestyle behaviors.

Chemotherapy for Metastatic Pancreatic Cancer