Gastrointestinal Cancer | Specialty

The OncLive Gastrointestinal Cancer condition center page is a comprehensive resource for clinical news and expert insights on various types of gastrointestinal (GI) cancers, including hepatocellular carcinoma, gastric cancer, pancreatic cancer, colorectal cancer, cholangiocarcinoma, esophageal cancer, and more. This page features news articles, interviews in written and video format, and podcasts that focus on unmet needs, treatment advances, and ongoing research in GI cancers.

Colorectal Cancer: Right Test, Right Time

November 4th 2014

Colorectal cancer (CRC) is increasingly being recognized as a heterogeneous disease, with molecular features defining emerging subtypes. Understanding which tests to order in which cases can better direct care for our patients. Increasingly, panel testing has advantages over individual genetic testing.

Financial Burden of Cancer Treatment Weighs Heavily on Patients

October 28th 2014

Nearly two-thirds of patients diagnosed with colorectal cancer report experiencing financial burden during their treatment, according to a study from the University of Michigan.

Fast Track Designation Granted to TAS-102 in mCRC

October 20th 2014

The FDA has granted a fast track designation to TAS-102 (tipiracil hydrochloride) as a treatment for patients with refractory metastatic colorectal cancer (mCRC), according to an announcement by Taiho Oncology, the company developing the drug in the United States.

Few Agents Better Than Somatostatin Analogs for Symptom Control in Carcinoid Syndrome

October 11th 2014

Somatostatin analogs remain the mainstay of medical therapy for symptom control in patients with carcinoid syndrome.

Axitinib Shows Promise in Carcinoid Tumors

October 10th 2014

The rate of PFS with axitinib in patients with advanced carcinoid tumors is promising.

Everolimus Improves Outcomes in Pancreatic Neuroendocrine Tumors

October 10th 2014

Treatment with the mTOR inhibitor everolimus improved overall survival by 6.34 months over placebo for patients with pancreatic neuroendocrine tumors.

Combination Therapies, Novel Targeted Agents Are Focus of Pancreatic NET Studies

October 10th 2014

Selection of first-line treatments and the rational sequencing of therapies are among the unresolved questions in the treatment of pancreatic neuroendocrine tumors.

Dr. Yao on Takeaways From the RADIANT-3 Trial

October 10th 2014

James C. Yao, MD, professor, Department of Gastrointestinal Medical Oncology, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, discusses key takeaways from the RADIANT-3 trial for a community oncologist.

Dr. Kunz on Sequencing Agents for Pancreatic NETs

October 10th 2014

Pamela L. Kunz, MD, assistant professor, Division of Oncology, Stanford University School of Medicine, discusses sequencing agents for the treatment of pancreatic NETs.

Dr. Saab on a Phase II Study of the Oncolytic Virus Reolysin for Pancreatic Cancer

September 30th 2014

Tanios Bekaii-Saab, MD, discusses the results of a phase II study of the oncolytic virus reolysin in the first-line treatment metastatic adenocarcinoma of the pancreas.

Expanded 80405 Study Mutation Analysis Fails to Resolve Targeted Therapy Quandary in mCRC

September 30th 2014

All patients with metastatic colorectal cancer should undergo RAS mutation testing to ensure optimal patient selection for EGFR inhibitor therapy.

Pembrolizumab Shows Promise in Advanced Gastric Cancer

September 29th 2014

In patients with advanced gastric cancer expressing PD-L1, pembrolizumab (Keytruda) has robust antitumor activity and an acceptable safety profile

Dovitinib Meets Primary Endpoint in Phase II Trial of Advanced GIST

September 27th 2014

Dovitinib, an investigational oral tyrosine kinase inhibitor (TKI), demonstrated a "manageable" safety profile while controlling disease in about half of patients with advanced gastrointestinal stromal tumor (GIST) who had discontinued treatment with imatinib due to disease progression or intolerance

Dr. Mehta Discusses the Reliability of Automated Segmentation for Lung Volumes in Multiple Cancers

September 23rd 2014

Niraj Mehta, MD, Radiation Oncologist, 21st Century Oncology, discusses the reliability of automated segmentation for lung volumes in breast, lung, and esophageal cancers.

Blood-Based Biomarkers Predict Outcomes Following Neoadjuvant Treatment in Esophageal Cancer

September 16th 2014

High pretreatment levels of serum VEGF-A and TGF-Î²1 indicated significantly worse disease-free survival (DFS) following neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy in patients with esophageal squamous cell carcinoma.

Potentially Curative Surgery Achievable With Chemo/SABR Combination for Advanced Pancreatic Cancer

September 16th 2014

The combination of chemotherapy and stereotactic ablative radiotherapy (SABR) may allow patients with locally advanced pancreatic cancer to undergo surgery, a procedure that might not have otherwise been an option

Radiotherapy Without Chemo Can Ease Dysphagia in Patients With Advanced Esophageal Cancer

September 15th 2014

Radiotherapy is equally as effective in the palliation of dysphagia (difficulty swallowing) as chemoradiotherapy for patients with advanced esophageal cancer

Dr. Venook Discusses the Future of Colorectal Cancer Treatment

September 15th 2014

Alan P. Venook, MD, professor, Department of Medicine (Hematology/Oncology), University of California, San Francisco, discusses the future of colorectal cancer treatment.

Ramucirumab Improves Survival in mCRC

September 12th 2014

The combination of ramucirumab and FOLFIRI significantly improved OS and PFS compared with chemotherapy alone as a second-line treatment for patients with mCRC.

Immunotherapy Combined With Chemotherapy for Pancreatic Cancer: A Game Changer?

September 5th 2014

This article reviews up-to-date clinical studies combining chemotherapy with immunotherapy; it also explains the rationale for this combination in treatment of pancreatic cancer.