Gastric cancer immunotherapy is advancing rapidly, bringing hope for better patient outcomes. Therefore, OncologyTube is excited to share insights from Dr. Syma Iqbal, USC Keck Medicine’s Gastrointestinal Oncology Chief. For example, her leadership in the Southwest Oncology Group and the National Cancer Institute’s Esophago-Gastric Task Force shapes new treatments for stomach and esophageal cancers. In her interview at the MOASC Spotlight in Newport Beach, California, Dr. Iqbal discusses the MATTERHORN trial, which tests durvalumab with FLOT chemotherapy. She explains, “Any patient who’s a candidate for perioperative chemotherapy is a candidate for the addition of durvalumab, as long as they don’t…
Author: Allen Wilbanks
Explore our web companion for the video featuring insights from Roshni Rao, MD FACS, Chief of Breast Surgery at Columbia University. This page provides evidence-based insights, comparisons to alternatives like axillary radiation, and trial updates. Ideal for patients, caregivers, or healthcare professionals. Watch the video above, then dive deeper below. What Is ALND and Why Is It Used in cN2/N3 Breast Cancer? Axillary lymph node dissection (ALND) in cN2/N3 breast cancer involves removing lymph nodes from the armpit to stage the disease and remove cancer cells. In advanced cases like cN2/N3, where multiple nodes are involved, ALND has traditionally been standard…
The Matterhorn Trial, a landmark phase III study published in the New England Journal of Medicine, evaluates durvalumab, an anti-PD-L1 monoclonal antibody, combined with FLOT chemotherapy in resectable gastric and gastroesophageal junction (GEJ) cancer. Consequently, this global, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial demonstrates significant improvements in event-free survival (EFS). For oncologists and cancer researchers, these findings address critical gaps in understanding immunotherapy’s role in gastric cancer management. Therefore, this article synthesizes the trial’s design, results, and implications, complemented by a concise OncologyTube video summary. Matterhorn Trial Design and Patient Population The Matterhorn Trial (NCT04592913) enrolled 948 patients with resectable gastric or GEJ…
Published: June 4, 2025Category: Lung Cancer Research Introduction to Neoadjuvant Nivolumab Plus Chemotherapy in CheckMate 816 The CheckMate 816 trial offers new findings on treating resectable lung cancer with neoadjuvant nivolumab plus chemotherapy. For example, it was presented at ASCO 2025 and published in the New England Journal of Medicine. Therefore, this study shows how neoadjuvant nivolumab plus chemotherapy in CheckMate 816 can help patients with non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC). Dr. Patrick Forde and his global team led the research. Watch the video below for a quick summary of the results. It’s tailored for oncologists and researchers. Video: CheckMate 816…
In the 2025 MOASC Breast Cancer Updates, Evanthia Roussos Torres, MD, delivers a compelling overview of the current challenges and future directions in breast cancer treatment. As a leading researcher and clinician, Dr. Torres emphasizes the critical need for advancements in biomarkers and immunotherapy. These advancements are necessary to improve outcomes for patients with triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) and hormone receptor-positive subtypes. Below, we dive into her key insights, featuring direct quotes and actionable takeaways from her presentation. The Urgent Need for Better Biomarkers in Breast Cancer Dr. Torres opens her discussion by addressing a pressing issue in breast cancer…
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),…
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 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…