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.

Hopes Revived for Targeting the "Undruggable" RAS Family

February 11th 2014

The members of the RAS oncogene family are central cogs in many different cell-signaling pathways, coordinate a variety of important cellular processes, and are highly mutated in a number of different cancers, including several with extremely poor prognosis.

Dr. Kunz on Treatment Options for Pancreatic NETs

February 10th 2014

Pamela L. Kunz, MD, assistant professor of medicine, Oncology, Stanford University Medical Center, discusses current and future treatment options for patients with neuroendocrine tumors (NETs).

ALK and ROS1 Lung Cancer Oncogenes May Also Drive Colorectal Cancer

February 7th 2014

Gene rearrangements ALK and ROS1 that are known to drive subsets of lung cancer are also present in colorectal cancer according to a recent study in Molecular Cancer Research.

Dr. Peeters on KRAS/NRAS Mutations in mCRC

February 6th 2014

Marc Peeters, MD, PhD, department of oncology, Antwerp University Hospital, Antwerpen, Belgium, discusses an analysis of RAS mutations in the phase III study 20050181, which compared panitumumab plus FOLFIRI versus FOLFIRI for second-line treatment of mCRC

Robert McCormack Explains the CellSearch CTC Test

February 5th 2014

Robert McCormack, PhD, head, Technology Innovation, Janssen Diagnostics, LLC, explains the circulating tumor cell test CellSearch.

Cytoreductive Surgery and HIPEC for Peritoneal Carcinomatosis

February 5th 2014

The management of patients with malignant peritoneal surface disease (PSD) commonly known as "carcinomatosis" continues to evolve.

Pancreatic Cancer Starkly Illustrates Challenges of Developing Targeted Therapies

February 4th 2014

A recent study determined that it would take 6.7 years on average to enroll enough patients with pancreatic cancer for the trials that opened in 2011-a tall order considering that the 5-year relative survival rate for those diagnosed with pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma is only 6%.

Dr. Abou-Alfa on LY2157299 in HCC

January 28th 2014

Ghassan K. Abou-Alfa, MD, discusses the phase II study of a novel transforming growth factor-beta (TGF-Î²1) receptor I kinase inhibitor, LY2157299 monohydrate, in patients with advanced hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), which was presented at the 2014 Gastrointestinal Cancers Symposium.

Examining the Role of Vitamin D in Colorectal Cancer Survival

January 27th 2014

Epidemiologic and scientific research indicates that diet and other lifestyle factors have a significant influence on the risk of developing colorectal cancer.

Dr. Bordonaro on First-Line Treatment Options for mCRC

January 24th 2014

Roberto Bordonaro, MD, discusses first-line treatment options for advanced colorectal cancer (CRC).

Dr. Fakih on RAS Mutations in Colon Cancer

January 22nd 2014

Marwan G. Fakih, MD, professor, director, Gastrointestinal Medical Oncology, City of Hope, discusses extended RAS mutations in colon cancer.

RAS Mutational Analyses in mCRC Trials Highlight Need to 'Think Beyond KRAS'

January 20th 2014

Studies presented at the 2014 GI Cancers Symposium emphasized the need for full RAS mutational analyses in the management of metastatic colorectal cancer prior to initiating treatment with anti-EGFR monoclonal antibodies.

Novel Targeted Agent Leads to Survival Benefit in HCC

January 20th 2014

Treatment with LY2157299 led to significant reductions in a prespecified biomarker that correlated with increased time to progression and overall survival in patients with advanced hepatocellular carcinoma.

Hedgehog Inhibitor Regimen Active in Advanced Pancreatic Cancer

January 20th 2014

Add-on treatment with the hedgehog pathway inhibitor vismodegib demonstrated encouraging activity in patients with untreated metastatic pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma.

Dr. Ramanathan on Biomarkers in Appendix Cancer

January 20th 2014

Ramesh K. Ramanathan, MD, discusses the potential of identifying actionable targets in appendiceal cancers.

Dr. John Marshall Provides Colorectal Cancer Updates

January 17th 2014

John L. Marshall, MD, from Georgetown University Hospital, on the recent advancements in colorectal cancer.

Dr. Fine on Capecitabine Plus Temozolomide for NETs

January 17th 2014

Robert L. Fine, MD, from the Columbia University Medical Center, discusses the prospective phase II study of CAPTEM for patients with neuroendocrine tumors.

Dr. Smitha Krishnamurthi on the Phase III RAINBOW Trial

January 17th 2014

Smitha Krishnamurthi, MD, discusses the results of the RAINBOW TRIAL

Neoadjuvant Capecitabine Considered a New Standard of Care in Rectal Cancer

January 14th 2014

Single-agent neoadjuvant capecitabine combined with radiation therapy demonstrated similar outcomes as previously established standards of care for patients with stage II or stage III rectal cancer.

Ramucirumab Combination Improves Survival in Metastatic Gastric Cancer

January 14th 2014

The combination of ramucirumab and paclitaxel resulted in a significant prolongation in survival and gains in quality of life when compared to paclitaxel alone for the second-line treatment of patients with metastatic gastric cancer.