Kristen K. Ciombor, MD, MSCI
Articles by Kristen K. Ciombor, MD, MSCI

Key Takeaways for Community Oncologists Treating Patients With HER2+ mCRC
ByTanios S. Bekaii-Saab, MD, FACP,Daniel H. Ahn, DO,Christina S. Wu, MB, BCh, MD,Kristen K. Ciombor, MD, MSCI,Stacy A. Cohen, MD The panelists close by emphasizing key takeaways regarding the management of HER2+ colorectal cancer, including early molecular profiling to enable targeted therapy sequencing, assessing HER2 amplification level, and having a strategic plan upfront mapping out potential targeted therapy options rather than just starting chemotherapy.

Future Perspectives and Unmet Needs in HER2+ mCRC Treatment
ByTanios S. Bekaii-Saab, MD, FACP,Daniel H. Ahn, DO,Christina S. Wu, MB, BCh, MD,Kristen K. Ciombor, MD, MSCI,Stacy A. Cohen, MD Drs Ciombor and Ahn discuss emerging HER2-targeted therapies in colorectal cancer, including antibody-drug conjugates and novel antibodies.

Clinician Insights on the Treatment of Patients With CRC
ByTanios S. Bekaii-Saab, MD, FACP,Daniel H. Ahn, DO,Christina S. Wu, MB, BCh, MD,Kristen K. Ciombor, MD, MSCI,Stacy A. Cohen, MD The panel reviews treatment strategies for HER2-positive metastatic colorectal cancer patients in various scenarios, including those with HER2 mutations, RAS mutations, and different levels of HER2 expression, emphasizing the importance of reprofiling and considering the duration of response before changing treatment approaches.

Managing Interstitial Lung Disease in Patients With HER2+ mCRC Receiving Trastuzumab Deruxtecan
ByTanios S. Bekaii-Saab, MD, FACP,Daniel H. Ahn, DO,Christina S. Wu, MB, BCh, MD,Kristen K. Ciombor, MD, MSCI,Stacy A. Cohen, MD Experts explore the management of interstitial lung disease in patients with colorectal cancer receiving treatment with trastuzumab deruxtecan and the consideration of liquid biopsies to assess HER2 status and adapt treatment strategies.

Trastuzumab Deruxtecan in Patients with HER2+ mCRC: The DESTINY-CRC01 Trial
ByTanios S. Bekaii-Saab, MD, FACP,Daniel H. Ahn, DO,Christina S. Wu, MB, BCh, MD,Kristen K. Ciombor, MD, MSCI,Stacy A. Cohen, MD Dr Stacy A. Cohen discusses the DESTINY-CRC01 trial investigating trastuzumab deruxtecan in patients with colorectal cancer, specifically addressing the use of a targeted therapy for HER2 in colorectal cancer patients, highlighting the importance of prior therapy history and optimal dosage to balance efficacy and toxicity.

Case Presentation: A 64-Year-Old Woman With HER2+ mCRC
ByTanios S. Bekaii-Saab, MD, FACP,Daniel H. Ahn, DO,Christina S. Wu, MB, BCh, MD,Kristen K. Ciombor, MD, MSCI,Stacy A. Cohen, MD Tanios S. Bekaii-Saab, MD, presents the case of a 64-year-old woman with HER2+ colorectal cancer to the panel for discussion.

MOUNAINEER-03: Tucatinib in Combination with Trastuzumab and Chemotherapy in Patients With HER2+ CRC
ByTanios S. Bekaii-Saab, MD, FACP,Daniel H. Ahn, DO,Christina S. Wu, MB, BCh, MD,Kristen K. Ciombor, MD, MSCI,Stacy A. Cohen, MD Kristen K. Ciombor, MD, discussed the ongoing MOUNTAINEER-03 trial, a global Phase 3 study randomizing patients with untreated HER2-positive colorectal cancer patients to FOLFOX plus tucatinib/trastuzumab versus standard chemotherapy plus a biologic, which she said highlights the importance of upfront molecular testing and could change treatment.

Strategies for Adverse Event Management in Patients With CRC Receiving Tucatinib
ByTanios S. Bekaii-Saab, MD, FACP,Daniel H. Ahn, DO,Christina S. Wu, MB, BCh, MD,Kristen K. Ciombor, MD, MSCI,Stacy A. Cohen, MD Toxicities with tucatinib in patients with colorectal cancer like fatigue and GI issues are generally manageable but still require close monitoring, with early optimization of diarrhea management being key to allow patients to stay on effective treatment long-term.

Tucatinib in Patients With CRC: Data From MOUNTAINEER-01
ByTanios S. Bekaii-Saab, MD, FACP,Daniel H. Ahn, DO,Christina S. Wu, MB, BCh, MD,Kristen K. Ciombor, MD, MSCI,Stacy A. Cohen, MD In the Phase 2 MOUNTAINEER-01 study of patients with HER2-positive metastatic colorectal cancer who were chemo-refractory, the combination of tucatinib and trastuzumab showed an impressive response rate and disease control rate, and median duration of response up to 12 months; Dr. Ahn notes these results compare favorably to prior studies of dual HER2 inhibition, with MOUNTAINEER-01 showing higher response rates.

Case Presentation: A 50-Year-Old Man With Metastatic CRC (mCRC)
ByTanios S. Bekaii-Saab, MD, FACP,Daniel H. Ahn, DO,Christina S. Wu, MB, BCh, MD,Kristen K. Ciombor, MD, MSCI,Stacy A. Cohen, MD Christina S. Wu, MB, BCh, MD, presents the case of a 50-year-old man with metastatic colorectal cancer to the panel for discussion.

New treatment updates could help find more patient subtypes to target and treat in the world of CRC, according to Kristen K. Ciombor, MD, MSCI.

The Role of HER2 in CRC
ByTanios S. Bekaii-Saab, MD, FACP,Daniel H. Ahn, DO,Christina S. Wu, MB, BCh, MD,Kristen K. Ciombor, MD, MSCI,Stacy A. Cohen, MD Drs Cohen, Wu, and Ahn discuss HER2 in colorectal cancer, explaining that increased expression indicates possible benefit from HER2 inhibitors; Ahn summarized studies showing modest activity of dual HER2 inhibition compared to single agent trastuzumab.

The Role of Biomarker and Molecular Testing in CRC
ByTanios S. Bekaii-Saab, MD, FACP,Daniel H. Ahn, DO,Christina S. Wu, MB, BCh, MD,Kristen K. Ciombor, MD, MSCI,Stacy A. Cohen, MD Drs Wu, Ciombor, and Cohen discussed upfront molecular testing in patients with colorectal cancer to guide treatment, with Dr Ciombor reviewing HER2 testing methods and Dr Cohen noting liquid biopsy limitations.

Current Treatment Options for CRC
ByTanios S. Bekaii-Saab, MD, FACP,Daniel H. Ahn, DO,Christina S. Wu, MB, BCh, MD,Kristen K. Ciombor, MD, MSCI,Stacy A. Cohen, MD Drs Ahn and Cohen discuss the treatment of colorectal cancer, reviewing the available options and describing factors influencing treatment choice and use of maintenance therapy after initial response.

Overview of Colorectal Cancer (CRC)
ByTanios S. Bekaii-Saab, MD, FACP,Daniel H. Ahn, DO,Christina S. Wu, MB, BCh, MD,Kristen K. Ciombor, MD, MSCI,Stacy A. Cohen, MD Stacy A. Cohen, MD, provides an overview of colorectal cancer, noting increasing incidence in younger patients; Christina S. Wu, MB, BCh, MD, discussed possible reasons for more colorectal cancer in younger people, including genetic predisposition and exposures, though the causes remain unclear.

Closing out their review of the metastatic colorectal cancer treatment paradigm, expert panelists consider how the treatment armamentarium will continue to evolve.

Focused discussion on the FRESCO-2 trial, which analyzed use of fruquitinib in the refractory setting of metastatic colorectal cancer.

Shared insight on the potential role for immunotherapeutic agents in the setting of microsatellite stable metastatic colorectal cancer.

Centering discussion on KRASG12C-mutated metastatic colorectal cancer, panelists highlight recent clinical studies of targeted agents in this subset of disease.

A panel of expert oncologists discusses advances in the treatment of BRAFV600E metastatic colorectal cancer and also reviews novel targets being investigated in the setting of metastatic colorectal cancer.

Experts offer insights on the appropriate treatment for patients with HER2-positive metastatic colorectal cancer.

Expert panelists review data from the MOUNTAINEER study, which tested tucatinib alone or in combination with trastuzumab in patients with metastatic colorectal cancer.

Shared perspective on the use of trastuzumab deruxtecan in HER2+ metastatic colorectal cancer following results from the DESTINY-CRC01 trial.

A panel of expert oncologists consider how HER2 expression can positively impact the selection of targeted therapies for patients with metastatic colorectal cancer.

Expert perspectives on the PARADIGM study, which highlighted the role of panitumumab in combination with frontline chemotherapy in patients with left-sided, RAS wild-type metastatic colorectal cancer.

Shared insight on the optimal use of circulating tumor DNA and minimal residual disease in the identification and management of metastatic colorectal cancer.

Opening their discussion on metastatic colorectal cancer management, expert panelists reflect on the molecular testing paradigm in the setting of diagnosis and workup.

Tanios Bekaii-Saab, MD, talks with Kristen Ciombor, MD, MSCI, and John Strickler, MD, about targeted therapy resistance, rechallenge, and acquired resistance mutations in colorectal cancer.

Tanios Bekaii-Saab, MD, details the GOZILA platform for colorectal cancer with experts Kristen Ciombor, MD, MSCI, and John Strickler, MD.

Tanios Bekaii-Saab, MD, sits with Kristen Ciombor, MD, MSCI, and John Strickler, MD, to examine the COLOMATE platform for patients with colorectal cancer.