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.

Dr. Kennedy on the Utilization of Radioactive Microspheres

June 12th 2014

Andrew Kennedy, MD, physician-in-chief, Radiation Oncology, Sarah Cannon, director, Radiation Oncology Research, Sarah Cannon Research Institute, discusses the utilization of radioactive microspheres.

Ramucirumab Misses Primary Endpoint in Phase III HCC Trial

June 11th 2014

The phase III REACH trial, which examined ramucirumab (Cyramza) for the second-line treatment of patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), failed to meet its primary endpoint of overall survival (OS), as announced by Eli Lilly and Company, the sponsor of the study and developer of the drug.

2014 NCCN Guideline Updates: Experts Highlight New Recommendations for Clinical Practice

June 6th 2014

At the recent National Comprehensive Cancer Network (NCCN) 19th Annual Conference, experts discussed this year's updates to the NCCN Clinical Practice Guidelines in Oncology. The meeting also included reviews of NCCN Task Force reports on issues in supportive care. We asked eleven NCCN panel members to select the most significant updates and insights presented at the conference.

Nab-Paclitaxel Explored as Adjuvant Therapy in Pancreatic Cancer

June 4th 2014

While the combination of gemcitabine and nab-paclitaxel (Abraxane) has demonstrated survival benefits for patients with metastatic pancreatic cancer, oncologists are interested in knowing whether the regimen will transfer well into the adjuvant setting

Dr. Bendell Discusses Two Studies in BRAF-Mutated CRC

June 2nd 2014

Johanna Bendell, MD, director of GI Cancer Research Program, associate director, Drug Development Program, Sarah Cannon Research Institute, discusses two studies in BRAF-mutated colorectal cancer.

Survival Comparable With Bevacizumab, Cetuximab in mCRC

June 1st 2014

Frontline therapy with bevacizumab (Avastin) or cetuximab (Erbitux) combined with either FOLFOX or FOLFIRI yielded a comparable survival benefit of approximately 29 months in patients with KRAS wild-type metastatic colorectal cancer

FDA Approves Frontline Panitumumab for KRAS Wild-type mCRC

May 23rd 2014

The FDA has expanded the approval of panitumumab to include the frontline treatment of patients with KRAS wild-type mCRC in combination with chemotherapy.

Studies Link Higher Vitamin D Levels With Improved Cancer Prognosis

May 23rd 2014

Two recently published clinical studies demonstrated a strong association between higher levels of vitamin D and improved outcomes among patients with various cancers.

After Colorectal Cancer Spreads, Additional Imaging Adds Little Benefit

May 20th 2014

For patients whose colorectal cancer has spread to the liver, and confirmed by computed tomography (CT), further imaging scans before surgery added little benefit when compared to patients who did not undergo further imaging.

Dr. Bendell on a Study of Onartuzumab Plus Bevacizumab for mCRC

May 13th 2014

Johanna Bendell, MD, discusses the rationale of a phase II trial looking at onartuzumab (MetMAb) and bevacizumab for patients with metastatic colorectal cancer (mCRC).

TAS-102 Extends Survival in Heavily Pretreated Colorectal Cancer

May 12th 2014

Treatment with the investigational oral agent TAS-102 significantly improved overall survival in a phase III trial for patients with heavily pretreated metastatic colorectal cancer.

Dr. Abou-Alfa on Embolization Versus Embolization Plus Systemic Therapy in HCC

May 6th 2014

Ghassan K. Abou-Alfa, MD, Gastrointestinal Oncology Service, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, discusses a retrospective analysis that evaluated embolization versus embolization plus systemic therapy in patients with metastatic hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC).

MM-398 Improves OS in Advanced Pancreatic Cancer

May 1st 2014

The addition of the investigational agent MM-398 (PEP02) to standard second-line chemotherapy significantly improved overall survival in a phase III trial for patients with metastatic pancreatic cancer.

Dr. Ramanathan on Gemcitabine and Nab-Paclitaxel in Pancreatic Cancer

April 30th 2014

Ramesh K. Ramanathan, MD, describes a phase II study that analyzed gemcitabine and nab-paclitaxel followed by consolidation with mFOLFIRINOX in patients with metastatic pancreatic cancer.

Dr. Kunz on Identifying Gastric Cancer Subtypes

April 23rd 2014

Pamela L. Kunz, MD, assistant professor of medicine, Oncology, Stanford University Medical Center, discusses the effort to identify molecular subtypes of gastric cancer.

FDA Approves Ramucirumab for Gastric and GEJ Adenocarcinoma

April 21st 2014

The FDA has approved the VEGFR-2 inhibitor ramucirumab as a treatment for patients with patients with unresectable gastric cancer or gastroesophageal junction adenocarcinoma, based on a significant extension in OS.

Aduro BioTech Immunotherapy Duo Shows Promise in Pancreatic Cancer

April 3rd 2014

The use of immunotherapy for pancreatic cancer has had limited exposure, but Aduro BioTech, Inc, has had phase II success with an approach in which two vaccines are administered. The vaccines, GVAX Pancreas and CRS-207, are administered to patients sequentially.

Nab-Paclitaxel Therapy in Pancreatic Cancer Deemed Patient Friendly

March 28th 2014

A recently approved indication for nab-paclitaxel (Abraxane) in metastatic pancreatic cancer is thought to have similar efficacy to a standard first-line treatment for the disease, but offers several advantages in the eyes of community oncologists and their patients

FDA Panel Unanimously Recommends New DNA Stool Test

March 27th 2014

The FDA's Molecular and Clinical Genetics advisory committee has unanimously supported the safety, efficacy, and positive risk-benefit profile of the noninvasive stool-based DNA test Cologuard in a 10-0 vote.

FDA Panel Narrowly Supports New CRC Blood Test

March 27th 2014

The blood-based colorectal cancer (CRC) screening test Epi proColon passed the scrutiny of the FDA's Molecular and Clinical Genetics advisory panel in a close 5-4 vote with 1 abstention in support of the claim that the test's benefits outweigh its risks