GI CANCERS

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 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