Introduction: Recent data from the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) GI Cancers Symposium 2025, as detailed in their educational book, provides a comprehensive look at the current state of CAR-T (Chimeric Antigen Receptor T-cell) therapy for gastrointestinal (GI) cancers. Despite the promise of this innovative approach, the results from 17 clinical trials suggest that CAR-T therapy has yet to transform the treatment landscape for these cancers as significantly as hoped. Here, we present an objective analysis based on these findings. Overview of Trials: The trials encompassed a variety of GI cancers, including Gastric Cancer (GC), Gastroesophageal Junction Cancer (GEJC),…
Author: Allen Wilbanks
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has recently underscored the significance of understanding Dihydropyrimidine Dehydrogenase (DPD) deficiency in patients before initiating treatment with capecitabine or fluorouracil (5-FU). This announcement comes with updated safety labeling for these medications, which are common in chemotherapy regimens for various cancers. Key Points from the FDA Announcement: What This Means for Patients: If you or a loved one is considering or currently undergoing treatment with capecitabine or 5-FU, it’s crucial to: Read More: For the full FDA announcement and detailed guidance, please visit the FDA’s official statement. Engage & Discuss: Hashtags: FDASafetyAlert DPDDeficiency Capecitabine…
In the rapidly evolving field of cancer treatment, the application of comprehensive genomic profiling (CGP) via liquid biopsy has become a pivotal tool for tailoring therapies in metastatic biliary tract cancer (mBTC). A recent study using real-world data from the GuardantINFORM database sheds light on the effectiveness of first-line treatments in patients with specific genetic mutations. Background: Historically, the first-line treatment for mBTC has been gemcitabine-cisplatin (GemCis) with or without immunotherapy (IO), such as durvalumab or pembrolizumab. However, this study questions the universal applicability of this approach, particularly for patients with IDH1 mutations or FGFR2 fusions. Study Insights: The research…
In a recent interview with Dr. Ignacio Garrido-Laguna from the University of Utah Health, we gained fascinating insights into the management of RAS mutations. Specifically, in pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) and the promising results from a Phase 1 study on RMC-6236, a novel multi-selective RAS inhibitor. Here’s a comprehensive look at the discussion and the latest clinical data from the study. Key Discussion Points: Dr. Garrido-Laguna began by highlighting the prevalence of RAS mutations in PDAC. He stated, “We do see RAS in around 90% of these patients, most of the ras that we see. It’s a low grade, grade…
On January 16, 2025, a significant advancement in cancer treatment was announced. The FDA approved a new therapeutic option for patients battling KRAS G12C-mutated metastatic colorectal cancer. This groundbreaking treatment involves the combination of sotorasib (marketed as Lumakras) with panitumumab (known as Vectibix). This approval comes as a beacon of hope for patients previously treated with standard chemotherapy regimens including fluoropyrimidine, oxaliplatin, and irinotecan. To ensure that the right patients benefit from this therapy, the FDA also greenlit the thera screen KRAS RGQ PCR Kit. This kit is crucial for identifying those with the specific KRAS G12C mutation. The approval…
In an enlightening discussion at the latest medical symposium, Dr. Jonathan Nowak, MD from Brigham and Women’s Hospital, shared critical insights on the role of circulating tumor DNA (ctDNA) and its interaction with celecoxib in treating stage III colon cancer. Here’s a summary of the key points from this session, based on the study titled “Prognostic and predictive role of circulating tumor DNA (ctDNA) in stage III colon cancer treated with celecoxib: Findings from CALGB (Alliance)/SWOG 80702.” Key Takeaways: ctDNA and Its Predictive Power: Dr. Nowak explained the methodology behind using ctDNA for predicting treatment outcomes, emphasizing that this approach…
The latest findings from the BREAKWATER study, a phase 3 clinical trial, have shown significant strides in improving treatment outcomes for patients with BRAF V600E-mutant metastatic colorectal cancer (mCRC). Presented by Scott Kopetz, MD, of MD Anderson Cancer Center, this study focused on the combination of encorafenib and cetuximab (EC) with FOLFOX chemotherapy versus standard of care (SOC) in the first-line setting. Study Insights: Expert Commentary: Dr. Kopetz from MD Anderson Cancer Center emphasized the study’s implications, stating, “The significance here is that this is a population that does not respond well to traditional chemotherapy, and to be able to…
By: Elizabeth Catherine Smyth – Cambridge University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust Background: Oesophagogastric adenocarcinoma (OGA) remains a significant global health challenge, often diagnosed at an advanced stage where curative treatment with multimodality therapy is less than 50% effective. In the UK, the standard of care for operable OGA includes FLOT chemotherapy before and after surgery. However, patients with detectable circulating tumor DNA (ctDNA) post-surgery face poorer survival outcomes, indicating the presence of micrometastatic disease. This scenario necessitates innovative approaches beyond conventional therapies. Trastuzumab deruxtecan (T-DXd), an antibody-drug conjugate targeting HER2, has shown promise in treating advanced, previously treated HER2-positive OGA,…
Background: The treatment landscape for well-differentiated gastroenteropancreatic neuroendocrine tumors (GEP-NETs) has been slow to evolve, with limited evidence supporting the addition of somatostatin analogs to molecular targeted therapies. STARTER-NET A recent phase III trial aimed to fill this gap by comparing the efficacy of everolimus (EVE) combined with lanreotide (LAN) against everolimus alone in patients with advanced GEP-NETs. Trial Details: Key Findings: Conclusion: The combination of everolimus and lanreotide has shown a statistically significant increase in progression-free survival for patients with well-differentiated GEP-NETs with poor prognostic factors. This outcome led the Data and Safety Monitoring Committee to recommend early termination…