GI CANCERS

Alan P. Venook, MD, recently discussed 2 cases of patients with colorectal cancer, and the treatment treatment considerations and decisions he would make when treating these patients. Venook, Shorenstein Associate Director for Program Development, Helen Diller Family Comprehensive Cancer Center, and professor, Department of Medicine, University of California San Francisco, discussed these cases during a&nbsp;<em>Targeted Oncology</em>&nbsp;live case-based peer perspectives dinner.<br /> &nbsp;

Tim G. Larson, MD, discusses&nbsp;emerging data involving immunotherapy for patients with microsatellite instability (MSI)/microsatellite stable (MSS) CRC and highlights some of the identified molecular mutations in patients with CRC.

The use of targeted therapies in colon cancer has become increasingly important, with several options available for clinicans to choose between. In a review of recent updates incorporating molecularly targeted therapy use in the National Comprehensive Cancer Network guidelines, the evidence for these new recommendations are detailed in support of their use in patients with colon cancer.

A. David McCollum, MD, discusses&nbsp;the optimal management of CRC in the first-line setting and the ongoing research with checkpoint inhibitors designed to benefit larger groups of patients.<br /> &nbsp;

Cathy Eng, MD, FACP, professor, Department of Gastrointestinal Medical Oncology, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, discusses choosing between TAS-102 (Lonsurf) and regorafenib (Stivarga) in colorectal cancer.

In findings from the phase III JAVELIN Gastric 300 trial, survival was not improved with the anti&ndash;PD-L1 agent avelumab compared with chemotherapy in previously treated patients with gastric&nbsp;or gastroesophageal junction adenocarcinoma.<br /> &nbsp;

In patients with&nbsp;hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), pill burden and treatment costs were reduced, with a trend toward improved treatment completion, by lowering the dose of&nbsp;sorafenib (Nexavar), according to results from a&nbsp;retrospective, multi-institutional study.

Carlos Becerra, MD, discusses&nbsp;the current management and emerging therapies for patients with pancreatic cancer.

John L. Marshall, MD, Director, The Ruesch Center for the Cure of Gastrointestinal Cancers&nbsp;at Georgetown Lombardi Comprehensive Cancer Center, discusses decision making in the frontline treatment of patients with metastatic colon cancer.

Eileen O&rsquo;Reilly, MD, associate director for clinical research at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, discusses new developments in pancreatic cancer care.

Richard Kim, MD, recently shared the treatment considerations and decisions he makes when treating patients with metastatic colorectal cancer, including the role of mutation testing and location of the tumor. Kim, associate professor of oncology, Moffitt Cancer Center, explained his treatment decisions based on 2 case scenarios during a&nbsp;<em>Targeted Oncology</em>&nbsp;live case-based peer perspectives dinner.

Mike Cusnir, MD, co-director of gastrointestinal malignancies, Mount Sinai Medical Center, recently discussed the cases of 2 patients with metastatic colorectal cancer (mCRC).<br /> &nbsp;

Vinod P. Balachandran, MD, Surgical Oncologist, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, discusses an analysis to determine the unique antigen qualities of long-term survivors of pancreatic cancer&nbsp;during The Society for Immunotherapy of Cancer (SITC) 32nd&nbsp;Annual Meeting.

The researchers review intra-arterial therapies and the latest literature supporting their use, categorized by different tumor types.

Hans-Joachim Schmoll, MD, discusses&nbsp;updated CHARTA findings, the current role of chemotherapy in patients with metastatic CRC, and his predictions for the future CRC treatment landscape.

Cathy Eng, MD, discussed optimizing sequencing beyond disease progression in CRC

Johanna Bendell, MD, discusses&nbsp; the current and emerging treatment landscape of immunotherapy for patients with CRC.

Johanna C. Bendell, MD, director of GI Oncology Research at Sarah Cannon Research Institute, discusses using immunotherapy for the treatment of patients with colorectal cancer.

John L. Marshall, MD, chief, Division of Hematology/Oncology, Medstar Georgetown University Hospital director, Otto J. Ruesch Center for the Cure of Gastrointestinal Cancer, discusses the evolving paradigm of gastrointestinal cancers.

Davendra Sohal, MD, MPH, Department of Hematology and Medical Oncology, Cleveland Clinic, discusses the SWOG S1505 trial, which is exploring perioperative mFOLFIRINOX versus gemcitabine and nab-paclitaxel (Abraxane) in patients with resectable pancreatic adenocarcinoma.

In a presentation during the 2017 International Liver Cancer Association Annual Conference, Amit G. Singal, MD, discussed data surrounding the use of direct acting antivirals, a novel and completely oral hepatitis C therapy, which has been associated with a high response rate.

An overall response rate of 16% was demonstrated in patients with FGF 19 immunohistochemistry-positive hepatocellular carcinoma treated with BLU-554, which was higher than the response rates of 10% or less that are seen with the currently approved HCC treatments.

Researchers are seeking prognostic biomarkers for response to treatment with adjuvant sorafenib (Nexavar) in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma, according to a presentation during the&nbsp;2017 International Liver Cancer Association Annual Conference in Seoul, South Korea.

Encouraging results are being seen following the administration of cabozantinib (Cabometyx) in patients with carcinoid and pancreatic neuroendocrine tumors. Clinical benefit of the drug has been exhibited in patients enrolled in a prospective phase II trial, which was initiated in July 2012; however, a randomized phase III trial will be necessary for confirmation.

David Metz, MD, chair of the North American Neuroendocrine Tumor Society, discusses the focus on multidisciplinary care and exciting areas of research being presented during the 10th Annual NANETS Symposium.&nbsp;

As an experienced medical oncologist and clinical researcher specializing in the treatment of gastrointestinal tumors, Pamela Kunz, MD, says the upcoming 2017 North American Neuroendocrine Tumor Society (NANETS) Annual Symposium offers her a chance to not only expand her own knowledge of neuroendocrine tumor research, but also allows her to share her past experience with professionals just starting out in the field.

The 2017 North American Neuroendocrine Tumor Society (NANETS) Annual Symposium is kicking off tomorrow, October 19, in Philadelphia with a 3-day lineup of presentations sure to leave professionals in the neuroendocrine community with a better understanding of ongoing neuroendocrine tumor research efforts, a look at what is on the horizon, and an abundance of networking opportunities with a variety of specialists throughout their field.

Michael A. Morse, MD, recently discussed treatment decisions centered around the care of patients with metastatic colorectal cancer. Morse, professor of Medicine, Duke Cancer Institute, explained his treatment decisions in 2 case scenarios during a&nbsp;<em>Targeted Oncology</em>&nbsp;live case-based peer perspectives dinner.

Internationally recognized surgeon H. Richard Alexander, MD, FACS, has been appointed as the new chief surgical officer at Rutgers Cancer Institute of New Jersey. He will also be a professor of surgery in the Division of Surgical Oncology at the Rutgers Robert Wood Johnson Medical School and a part of the Gastrointestinal Oncology Program at the cancer institute when his position begins this fall, according to a press release from Rutgers Cancer Institute of New Jersey.

A look back at all the FDA news that occurred in the month of September.