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 Prognosis and Response to Chemotherapy Vary by Molecular Subtype

January 24th 2013

Using a new classification system that categorizes colorectal cancers by tumor gene expression patterns, researchers have determined that tumor prognosis and response to adjuvant chemotherapy in CRC vary according to molecular subtype.

Second-Line Docetaxel Improves Survival and Quality of Life in Patients with Advanced Esophageal and Stomach Cancers

January 23rd 2013

Patients with advanced esophagogastric adenocarcinoma who received docetaxel as a second-line therapy experienced a longer period of overall survival as well as a better quality of life compared with patients who received active symptom control.

Surgery Following Imatinib Boosts Survival for GIST Patients

January 23rd 2013

A retrospective analysis of the potential benefits of surgery following treatment with imatinib (Gleevec) suggests a clear benefit in both OS and PFS in patients with metastatic or recurrent GIST when compared with those who received imatinib therapy alone.

Study Finds Role for Maintenance Bevacizumab in mCRC

January 16th 2013

A combination of maintenance bevacizumab plus standard second-line chemotherapy appears to be an effective strategy in managing patients with metastatic colorectal cancer after disease progression

Dr. Holcombe Discusses Aflibercept for mCRC

January 14th 2013

Randall F. Holcombe, MD, Tisch Cancer Institute at Mount Sinai Medical Center, speaks about the use of aflibercept in patients with metastatic colorectal cancer.

A Surgeon's Perspective on GI Cancer Navigation

January 14th 2013

For Johns Hopkins' gastrointestinal cancer surgeon Mark Duncan, MD, those who help his patients to cope with their diagnosis and manage their often complex treatment and follow-up are critical members of the healthcare team.

Dr. Matthew Katz on Borderline Resectable Pancreatic Cancer

January 11th 2013

Matthew H.G. Katz, MD, from the MD Anderson Cancer Center, discusses borderline resectable pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma, a newer stage of pancreatic cancer introduced by the NCCN in 2003.

Controlling Progression in Patients With Metastatic Colorectal Cancer

December 21st 2012

The prognosis for patients with colorectal cancer has benefited greatly from the advent of advances in chemotherapy and new agents, with nearly threefourths of stage I patients surviving for at least 5 years after diagnosis.

Biomarker May Predict Response to Bevacizumab in mCRC

November 26th 2012

Researchers have identified a potential predictive marker for survival in cases of metastatic colorectal cancer (mCRC) treated with bevacizumab (Avastin), suggesting that patients who have the appropriate biomarker could experience a greater benefit when given the drug, whereas others who do not express the biomarker could be spared from receiving unnecessary therapy.

Surgeon Offers Perspective on Need for GI Navigators

November 20th 2012

For Johns Hopkins' gastrointestinal cancer surgeon Mark D. Duncan, those who help his patients cope with their diagnosis and manage their often complex treatment and follow-up are critical members of the healthcare team.

ï»¿Evolution of Targeted Therapy: GIST Experience Points the Way to Defining Third-Line Treatment

November 19th 2012

Targeted antineoplastic therapy based on the presence of a well-defined molecular target should be recognized as a standard-of-care approach in an increasing number of clinical settings.

Dr. Holcombe on Regorafenib for Colorectal Cancer

November 9th 2012

Randall F. Holcombe, MD, from the Tisch Cancer Institute at Mount Sinai Medical Center, discusses the oral multikinase inhibitor regorafenib for patients with metastatic colorectal cancer.

Potential Biomarker for Response to Bevacizumab in Colorectal Cancer Identified

October 25th 2012

Researchers have identified a potential predictive marker for survival in cases of metastatic colorectal cancer treated with bevacizumab.

Laxative-Free CTC Examined as Potential Alternative to Standard Colonoscopy

October 25th 2012

Computer-aided computed tomographic colonography that does not require a laxative preparation nearly rivals conventional optical colonoscopy for identifying asymptomatic adults with adenomas.

Dr. Nancy Lewis Discusses the Regorafenib CORRECT Trial

October 18th 2012

Nancy L. Lewis, MD, from the Thomas Jefferson University Hospitals, discusses the phase III CORRECT trial that examined the multitargeted tyrosine kinase inhibitor regorafenib.

Adjuvant Chemotherapy May Offer Survival Benefit in Older Patients With Colon Cancer

October 17th 2012

Patients 75 years of age or older with stage III colon cancer may expect a survival benefit from adjuvant chemotherapy that rivals that previously reported in younger patients.

In Refractory GIST, Regorafenib Delays Disease Progression Across All Subgroups

October 3rd 2012

Regorafenib significantly delays disease progression in virtually all subgroups of patients with GIST in the second-line setting, and may even confer benefits when continued after progression.

Updated Regorafenib Survival Results Confirm Effectiveness

October 1st 2012

Patients with heavily pretreated metastatic colorectal cancer who received regorafenib experienced a sustained survival benefit across all prespecified subgroups.

Does Docetaxel Add Benefit to the Oral Fluoropyrimidine S-1 in Gastric Cancer?

September 30th 2012

Two analyses, two different conclusions in Asian START trial when docetaxel was added to S-1 for patients with previously untreated advanced or recurrent gastric cancer.

Gefitinib: Small Benefit as Second-Line Therapy in Esophageal Cancer

September 29th 2012

Gefitinib improved progression-free survival and some quality of life measures when used as second-line therapy for esophageal cancer.