Gastrointestinal Cancer

This video covers results of the SWOG 1406 study, which tested the BRAF inhibitor vemurafenib in combination with irinotecan and cetuximab for patients with metastatic, BRAF-mutant colorectal cancer.

Use of stereotactic body radiation therapy (SBRT) was equally effective as transarterial chemoembolization (TACE) as a method of bridge to transplant among patients with hepatocellular carcinoma.

This video examines results of the CHARTA trial, which tested first-line FOLFOX plus bevacizumab with or without irinotecan in patients with advanced colorectal cancer.

This video examines an exploratory analysis of the RESORCE trial, which tested regorafenib vs placebo in hepatocellular carcinoma patients following radiographic progression on sorafenib.

Certain patient-reported outcomes including fatigue and emotional support are associated with survival outcomes in patients with early-stage colorectal cancer.

Ahead of the 2017 ASCO Gastrointestinal Cancer Symposium in San Francisco, we spoke with Dr. Geoffrey Ku on the advances in systemic therapy for esophageal and gastric cancer.

Advanced colorectal cancer patients with BRAF mutations have markedly worse prognosis than non-mutant patients, according to a large analysis. Post-progression survival in particular is worse among BRAF-mutant patients.

Patients with metastatic colorectal cancer who engaged in more hours of physical activity at the time of their diagnosis had improvements in both progression-free and overall survival compared with patients who had less physical activity.

Using a watch-and-wait strategy among a group of highly selected patients with rectal cancer who have undergone neoadjuvant chemoradiation did not appear to compromise outcomes.

Using PET scans during induction chemotherapy for esophageal cancer, researchers were able to assess patient response to treatment and adjust their therapy, leading to an improved rate of pathologic complete response prior to surgery.

Adding cetuximab to chemoradiation yielded better locoregional failure rates than historical data in a small trial of patients with squamous cell carcinoma of the anal canal, but the treatment resulted in substantial toxicity.

The regular use of aspirin reduced the risk for pancreatic cancer by almost 50%, according to the results of a Chinese study.

Non-aspirin NSAIDs are more effective than other options for colorectal chemoprevention in individuals with previous colorectal neoplasia, according to a new meta-analysis. Low-dose aspirin, however, is a safer option, and offers the best risk-benefit profile.

More than 15% of patients with early-onset colorectal cancer may harbor mutations to cancer susceptibility genes, suggesting a need for genetic counseling and a multigene panel.

The occurrence of colon cancer on the right vs left side of the colon is a prognostic factor for all stages of the disease.

Patients with peritoneal metastatic colorectal cancer had significantly shorter overall survival compared with patients with other isolated sites of metastases.

The expansion of healthcare in Massachusetts in 2006 was associated with increased rates of resection for patients with colorectal cancer.

Colonoscopy screening is modestly effective for preventing colorectal cancer in patients aged 70 to 74, but the benefits may begin to diminish after that.

A set of genes that are more likely to be mutated in African-Americans vs Caucasians with colorectal cancer appears to increase the risk of metastases and relapse in mutant versions.

In this interview we discuss the GeneFx Colon test (or the ColDx assay), which can helpful identify patients with low- or high-risk stage II colon cancer.

A gene expression microarray-based assay was able to successfully identify patients with stage II colon cancer who are at high risk for recurrence.

A study found that fusobacteria, commonly found in the mouth, can enrich colorectal cancer cells, in a process mediated by the Fap2 protein.

These guidelines review the use of radiation, chemotherapy, and surgery in borderline and unresectable pancreas cancer. Radiation technique, dose, and targets were evaluated, as was the recommended chemotherapy, administered either alone or concurrently with radiation. This report will aid clinicians in determining guidelines for the optimal treatment of borderline and unresectable pancreatic cancer.

Here we review the evidence supporting current approaches to resectable gastric cancer, including discussion of the optimal extent of surgery and lymphadenectomy, adjuvant chemotherapy, postoperative chemotherapy with chemoradiation, and perioperative chemotherapy.

Current methods of treatment still have a small impact on the survival of patients with localized disease. Improved understanding of the underlying mutations seen in gastric cancer might suggest alternative treatments and ways to better select patients.