Advertisement

Advertisement

Gastroesophageal Cancer

ESOPEC Trial: FLOT Protocol Proves Superior to CROSS Regimen in Locally Advanced Esophageal Cancer

The phase III ESOPEC trial, conducted in Germany, compared two regimens for locally advanced esophageal cancer and found an overall survival benefit with the perioperative FLOT protocol over the neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy CROSS regimen. The results were presented during the Plenary Session of...

Gastroesophageal Cancer

In Gastroesophageal Cancer, ‘Switch’ Maintenance Improves Outcomes Over Chemotherapy Continuation

In patients with advanced HER2-negative gastric or gastroesophageal junction cancer and disease control after oxaliplatin-based chemotherapy, “switch” maintenance with paclitaxel plus ramucirumab in the phase III ARMANI trial significantly improved both progression-free and overall survival,...

Hepatobiliary Cancer
Gastroesophageal Cancer
Colorectal Cancer
Issues in Oncology
Supportive Care

Strategies for Reducing the Risk of Cancers in Patients With Alcohol Dependence

Investigators have uncovered the potential benefit of undergoing alcohol rehabilitation and maintaining abstinence in patients with alcohol dependence at risk of developing alcohol-associated cancers, according to a recent study published by Schwarzinger et al in The Lancet Public Health. The...

Gastroesophageal Cancer
Immunotherapy

Pembrolizumab/Chemotherapy in First-Line Treatment of HER2-Negative Advanced Gastric or GEJ Adenocarcinoma

On November 16, 2023, pembrolizumab (Keytruda) was approved with fluoropyrimidine- and platinum-containing chemotherapy for first-line treatment of locally advanced unresectable or metastatic HER2-negative gastric or gastroesophageal junction (GEJ) adenocarcinoma.1 Supporting Efficacy Data Approval ...

Gastroesophageal Cancer

Esophageal Cancer: Neoadjuvant Triplet or Doublet Chemotherapy, With or Without Radiotherapy

As reported in The Lancet by Ken Kato, MD, and colleagues, the Japanese phase III JCOG1109 NExT trial showed that neoadjuvant triplet chemotherapy was associated with superior overall survival vs doublet chemotherapy among previously untreated patients with locally advanced esophageal squamous cell ...

Gastroesophageal Cancer

Perioperative Chemotherapy vs Neoadjuvant Chemoradiation in Esophageal Cancer

For patients with locally advanced esophageal adenocarcinoma that can be treated with surgery, chemotherapy administered before and after surgery improved survival compared to chemoradiotherapy before surgery. The research was presented by Hoeppner et al at the 2024 ASCO Annual Meeting (Abstract...

gastroesophageal cancer

Jens Marquardt, MD, and Jens Hoeppner, MD, on Esophageal Cancer: Phase III Findings on Chemotherapy vs Chemoradiation

Jens Marquardt, MD, of the University of Lübeck, and Jens Hoeppner, MD, of the University of Bielefeld, discuss findings from the ESOPEC trial, which showed that perioperative chemotherapy (fluorouracii, leucovorin, oxaliplatin, docetaxel) and surgery improves survival in patients with resectable esophageal adenocarcinoma when compared with neoadjuvant chemoradiation (41.4 Gy plus carboplatin and paclitaxel) followed by surgery (LBA1).

Gastroesophageal Cancer
Gastrointestinal Cancer

Advanced Gastric or Gastroesophageal Junction Cancer: Addition of Relatlimab to Immunochemotherapy

In the phase II RELATIVITY-060 study, results of which were reported in the Journal of Clinical Oncology, Susanna Hegewisch-Becker, MD, PhD, and colleagues found that the addition of the LAG-3–blocking antibody relatlimab to first-line nivolumab plus chemotherapy did not improve the objective...

Gastroesophageal Cancer

Definitive Concurrent Chemoradiotherapy for Unresectable Locally Advanced Esophageal Cancer: Comparison of Agents

In a Chinese phase III trial (CRTCOESC) reported in the Journal of Clinical Oncology, Jia et al found that neither capecitabine nor XELOX (capecitabine, oxaliplatin) improved 2-year overall survival vs cisplatin/fluorouracil as part of definitive concurrent chemoradiotherapy in patients with...

Gastroesophageal Cancer
Supportive Care

Oral Rinse Could Provide Early Screening for Gastric Cancer

A simple oral rinse may lead to early detection of gastric cancer, according to new findings presented by Perati et al at Digestive Disease Week (DDW) 2024 (Abstract 949) and simultaneously published in Gastroenterology. Background Gastric cancer is the fourth leading cause of cancer mortality...

Gastroesophageal Cancer

Bispecific Antibody Plus Chemotherapy Improves Survival in Patients With Gastric or Gastroesophageal Junction Cancer

Treatment with the first-in-class PD-1/CTLA-4 bispecific antibody cadonilimab plus XELOX (capecitabine, oxaliplatin) chemotherapy demonstrated a survival advantage for patients with advanced gastric or gastroesophageal junction (GEJ) adenocarcinoma as first-line treatment, regardless of PD-L1...

Breast Cancer
Gastroesophageal Cancer
Gastrointestinal Cancer

FDA Approves Trastuzumab Biosimilar Trastuzumab-strf

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved trastuzumab-strf (Hercessi), a biosimilar to trastuzumab (Herceptin), for the treatment of HER2-overexpressing breast cancer and gastric or gastroesophageal junction adenocarcinoma. Trastuzumab-strf is indicated for adjuvant treatment of...

Gastroesophageal Cancer
Gastrointestinal Cancer

Immunotherapy Plus FOLFIRI for Advanced Gastric/Gastroesophageal Junction Adenocarcinoma

In a French noncomparative phase II trial (PRODIGE 59-FFCD 1707-DURIGAST) reported in JAMA Oncology, Tougeron et al found limited activity of FOLFIRI (leucovorin, fluorouracil, and irinotecan) plus durvalumab or durvalumab/tremelimumab in the second-line treatment of advanced...

Gastroesophageal Cancer
Gastrointestinal Cancer
Immunotherapy

Bispecific Immune Checkpoint Inhibitor Improves Survival in Patients With Gastric Cancer, Regardless of PD-L1 Status

The PD-1/CTLA-4 bispecific antibody cadonilimab plus chemotherapy improved progression-free and overall survival in patients with untreated, HER2-negative, locally advanced or metastatic gastric or gastroesophageal junction (GEJ) cancer—including those with PD-L1–low tumors—compared with...

Gastroesophageal Cancer

Endoscopic Screening and Esophageal Cancer Incidence and Mortality

In an analysis of 9-year outcomes of a Chinese trial (ESECC) reported in the Journal of Clinical Oncology, Liu et al found that endoscopic screening for esophageal cancer was associated with numeric benefit vs no screening in terms of the incidence of esophageal cancer and esophageal cancer–related ...

Gastroesophageal Cancer

Fruquintinib Plus Paclitaxel Under Study as Second-Line Treatment of Gastroesophageal Cancer

The combination of the small molecule inhibitor of VEGFR fruquintinib and the chemotherapy paclitaxel presents a potential new second-line treatment of patients with advanced gastric or gastroesophageal junction adenocarcinoma, according to data presented during the ASCO Plenary Series: February...

Gastroesophageal Cancer
Immunotherapy

Liquid Biopsy May Help Predict Outcomes in Patients With Gastroesophageal Cancers Following Immunotherapy

Monitoring circulating tumor DNA (ctDNA) levels with liquid biopsies could help physicians accurately assess treatment responses and predict future prognoses in patients with operable esophageal or gastroesophageal junction cancer receiving an immunotherapy doublet, according to a recent study...

Gastroesophageal Cancer

FDA Approves Tislelizumab for Previously Treated Patients With Advanced Esophageal Cancer

On March 14, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved the humanized immunoglobulin G4  anti–PD-1 monoclonal antibody tislelizumab-jsgr (Tevimbra) as monotherapy for adults with unresectable or metastatic esophageal squamous cell carcinoma after prior systemic chemotherapy that did not...

Gastroesophageal Cancer

Long-Term Follow-up Affirms Benefit of Pembrolizumab Plus Chemotherapy in Advanced Esophageal Cancer

Long-term follow-up of the phase III KEYNOTE-590 trial confirms the benefit of the PD-1 inhibitor pembrolizu­mab plus chemotherapy in advanced esophageal cancer. As compared with chemotherapy alone, after a median of follow-up of almost 59 months, patients treated with the chemoimmunotherapy...

Gastroesophageal Cancer

Esophageal Squamous Cell Cancer: Overall Survival Improved With Tiragolumab and Atezolizumab Plus Chemotherapy

For patients with treatment-naive, locally advanced or metastatic esophageal squamous cell carcinoma, the addition of two checkpoint inhibitors to chemotherapy significantly improved not only progression-free survival but also overall survival, in the randomized, phase III SKYSCRAPER-08 trial...

Gastroesophageal Cancer
Gastrointestinal Cancer

Adding First-Line Nivolumab to Chemotherapy in Advanced Gastric, Gastroesophageal Junction, and Esophageal Adenocarcinoma

As reported in the Journal of Clinical Oncology by Yelena Y. Janjigian, MD, and colleagues, 3-year follow-up of the phase III CheckMate 649 trial has shown the continued benefit of the addition of nivolumab to chemotherapy in the first-line treatment of advanced gastric, gastroesophageal junction,...

Gastroesophageal Cancer

Evaluating the Use of Perioperative Chemoimmunotherapy in Resectable Gastric and Gastroesophageal Junction Cancers

Updates of two key phase III trials presented at the 2024 ASCO Gastrointestinal Cancers Symposium showed the benefit of adding a checkpoint inhibitor to standard perioperative chemotherapy with FLOT (fluorouracil, leucovorin, oxaliplatin, docetaxel) in locally advanced, resectable gastric and...

Gastrointestinal Cancer
Gastroesophageal Cancer

Fruquintinib Plus Paclitaxel as Second-Line Treatment for Gastric or Gastroesophageal Junction Cancer

The combination of fruquintinib and paclitaxel is a potential new second-line treatment for patients with advanced gastric or gastroesophageal junction cancer, according to data presented during the ASCO Plenary Series: February 2024 Session (Abstract 438780). Results of the phase III FRUTIGA...

gastroesophageal cancer
gastrointestinal cancer

Ian Chau, MD, on Gastrointestinal Cancers: Real-World Effectiveness of Nivolumab Plus Chemotherapy

Ian Chau, MD, of The Royal Marsden Hospital, discusses reportedly the first study to evaluate the real-world effectiveness of nivolumab as a first-line treatment of advanced gastric, gastroesophageal junction, or esophageal adenocarcinoma. The combination therapy improved overall survival compared with chemotherapy alone. Dr. Chau presents the 18-month follow-up results (Abstract 295).

gastroesophageal cancer
gastrointestinal cancer

Anant Ramaswamy, DM, on Advanced Gastric Cancers: New Findings on Adding Docetaxel to Doublet

Anant Ramaswamy, DM, of Tata Memorial Centre, discusses phase III results of a study that added docetaxel to a doublet regimen of fluorouracil or capecitabine and oxaliplatin, which did not improve overall survival in patients with advanced gastroesophageal junction and gastric cancers. Continuing chemotherapy beyond 6 months also did not appear to improve survival in this population (Abstract LBA248).

gastroesophageal cancer

Manish A. Shah, MD, on Esophageal Cancer: Long-Term Outcomes of Pembrolizumab and Chemotherapy

Manish A. Shah, MD, of Weill Cornell Medical College, discusses phase III findings of the KEYNOTE-590 study, which shows that, after 5 years, the use of pembrolizumab plus chemotherapy improved survival with durable efficacy, compared with placebo plus chemotherapy, in patients with untreated advanced esophageal cancer (Abstract 250).

gastroesophageal cancer

Ian Chau, MD, on Esophageal Squamous Cell Carcinoma: New Data on Nivolumab, Ipilimumab, and Chemotherapy

Ian Chau, MD, of The Royal Marsden Hospital, discusses an analysis from the CheckMate 648 study on quality-adjusted time without symptoms and toxicity in patients with unresectable advanced esophageal squamous cell carcinoma. Patients treated with nivolumab plus ipilimumab and nivolumab plus chemotherapy compared with chemotherapy alone experienced longer quality-adjusted survival (Abstract 251).

Gastroesophageal Cancer
Gastrointestinal Cancer

Additional Analysis of MATTERHORN Confirms Global Benefit of Durvalumab Plus FLOT in Gastric/Gastroesophageal Junction Cancer

Subgroup analyses of the randomized double-blind phase III MATTERHORN trial continue to show the benefit of adding perioperative durvalumab to standard chemotherapy in patients with locally advanced, resectable gastric or gastroesophageal junction cancer. Detailed findings on pathologic complete...

gastroesophageal cancer

Ken Kato, MD, PhD, on Advanced Esophageal Cancer: Biomarker Analyses From CheckMate 648

Ken Kato, MD, PhD, of Japan’s National Cancer Center Hospital, discusses the first comprehensive findings on biomarkers from the CheckMate 648 study. These results further corroborate the clinical efficacy of nivolumab plus chemotherapy and nivolumab plus ipilimumab in the first-line treatment of advanced esophageal squamous cell carcinoma. According to Dr. Kato, the data suggest an overall survival benefit across multiple biomarker subgroups (Abstract 252).

Gastroesophageal Cancer

Long-Term Follow-up of KEYNOTE-590: Benefit of Pembrolizumab Plus Chemotherapy Affirmed in Advanced Esophageal Cancer

Long-term follow-up of the phase III KEYNOTE-590 trial has confirmed the benefit of pembrolizumab plus chemotherapy in advanced esophageal cancer. As compared with chemotherapy alone, after a median follow-up of almost 59 months, patients treated with the chemoimmunotherapy combination were three...

gastroesophageal cancer

Michael K. Gibson, MD, PhD, on Esophageal Cancer: Expert Commentary on Two Key Studies

Michael K. Gibson, MD, PhD, of Vanderbilt University Medical Center, discusses phase III findings on chemotherapy plus camrelizumab in the ESCORT-NEO trial of patients with resectable esophageal squamous cell carcinoma; and phase III SKYSCRAPER-08 results on first-line tiragolumab plus atezolizumab and chemotherapy in the same patient population (Abstracts LBA244 and 245).

Gastroesophageal Cancer

Combining PD-L1 and TIGIT Inhibitors Plus Chemotherapy in Esophageal Cancer

Results from the phase III SKYSCRAPER-08 study found that combining PD-L1 and T-cell immunoglobulin and ITM domain (TIGIT) inhibitors plus chemotherapy in the first-line setting extended survival in an Asian population of patients with metastatic or locally advanced esophageal squamous cell...

Gastroesophageal Cancer
Gastrointestinal Cancer

Perioperative Pembrolizumab Plus Chemotherapy in Locally Advanced Gastric/Gastroesophageal Cancer

As reported in The Lancet Oncology by Kohei Shitara, MD, and colleagues, interim analyses of the phase III KEYNOTE-585 trial have shown that the addition of perioperative pembrolizumab to chemotherapy improved pathologic complete response, but did not significantly improve event-free survival, in...

Gastroesophageal Cancer
Immunotherapy

Novel Antibody-Drug Conjugate Under Study in Treatment of Gastric or Gastroesophageal Junction Cancers

A first-in-class, claudin 18.2 (CLDN18.2)-targeted antibody-drug conjugate may prove to be an effective treatment option for patients with advanced gastric or gastroesophageal junction cancer, according to data presented during the ASCO Plenary Series: November 2023.1 (The ASCO Plenary Series is...

Gastroesophageal Cancer

Adding Checkpoint Inhibition to Perioperative Chemotherapy Boosts Pathologic Complete Response Rates in Gastric Cancers

The addition of immune checkpoint inhibitors to perioperative chemotherapy for gastric and gastroesophageal junction cancers boosts pathologic complete response rates, but the ultimate impact on clinical outcomes remains unclear, according to interim analyses from two phase III trials presented at...

Head and Neck Cancer
Gastroesophageal Cancer
Issues in Oncology

Ultraprocessed Food May Heighten Risk of Head and Neck Cancer and Esophageal Adenocarcinoma

A higher consumption of ultraprocessed foods may be associated with the development of cancer of the upper–aerodigestive tract such as head and neck cancer and esophageal adenocarcinoma, according to a recent study published by Morales-Berstein et al in the European Journal of Nutrition. The new...

Gastroesophageal Cancer

Adding Atezolizumab to Perioperative Chemotherapy in Resectable Esophagogastric Cancer

As reported in the Journal of Clinical Oncology by Lorenzen et al, the phase II portion of the German-Swiss phase II/III DANTE/IKF-s633 trial showed promising results with the addition of atezolizumab to perioperative chemotherapy in patients with resectable esophagogastric cancer. Study Details In ...

Gastroesophageal Cancer
Gastrointestinal Cancer

Investigational Dual PD-1 and TIGIT Blockade in Advanced Gastroesophageal Cancer

Early findings from the phase II EDGE-Gastric trial indicate the potential for two novel agents to make a difference in advanced gastroesophageal adenocarcinoma, according to findings reported at the ASCO Plenary Series: November 2023 Session by Yelena Y. Janjigian, MD, Chief of the...

Gastroesophageal Cancer
Gastrointestinal Cancer
Immunotherapy

FDA Amends Pembrolizumab’s Gastric Cancer Indication

On November 7, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) revised the existing indication of pembrolizumab (Keytruda) in combination with trastuzumab, fluoropyrimidine, and platinum-containing chemotherapy for the first-line treatment of patients with locally advanced unresectable or metastatic...

Gastroesophageal Cancer
Gastrointestinal Cancer

Novel Antibody-Drug Conjugate Shows Potential in Treating CLDN18.2-Positive Gastric and GEJ Cancers

A first-in-class, claudin 18.2 (CLDN18.2)-targeted antibody-drug conjugate may be a new treatment option for patients with advanced gastric/gastroesophageal junction (GEJ) cancers, according to data presented by Xu et al during the ASCO Plenary Series: November 2023 Session (Abstract 434420)....

Gastroesophageal Cancer
Gastrointestinal Cancer

Adding Pembrolizumab to Trastuzumab and Chemotherapy in HER2-Positive Gastric/Gastroesophageal Junction Adenocarcinoma: KEYNOTE-811

In interim analyses from the phase III KEYNOTE-811 trial reported in The Lancet, Yelena Y. Janjigian, MD, and colleagues found that the addition of pembrolizumab to trastuzumab and chemotherapy in first-line treatment of patients with locally advanced or metastatic HER2-positive...

Gastroesophageal Cancer
Gastrointestinal Cancer
Immunotherapy

Addition of First-Line Pembrolizumab to Chemotherapy in HER2-Negative Advanced Gastric Cancer

As reported in The Lancet Oncology by Sun Young Rha, MD, and colleagues, the phase III KEYNOTE-859 trial has shown that the addition of first-line pembrolizumab to chemotherapy was associated with a statistically significant improvement  in overall survival in patients with HER2-negative advanced...

Gastroesophageal Cancer
Gastrointestinal Cancer

Perioperative Chemotherapy and Pembrolizumab in Locally Advanced Resectable Gastric and Gastroesophageal Junction Adenocarcinomas

In a phase II trial reported in JAMA Oncology, Manji et al found that perioperative chemotherapy and pembrolizumab showed activity in locally advanced resectable gastric and gastroesophageal junction adenocarcinoma. Study Details Thirty-four evaluable patients were enrolled in the...

Solid Tumors
Immunotherapy
Gynecologic Cancers
Gastroesophageal Cancer
Hepatobiliary Cancer

Cadonilimab, an Anti–PD-1/CTLA-4 Bispecific Antibody, for Advanced Solid Tumors

In a Chinese phase 1b/II trial (COMPASSION-03) reported in The Lancet Oncology, Gao et al found that the anti–PD-1/CTLA-4 bispecific antibody cadonilimab showed activity in previously treated patients with a range of advanced solid tumors, including advanced cervical cancer, esophageal squamous...

Gastroesophageal Cancer
Gastrointestinal Cancer
Immunotherapy

Quality of Life With Nivolumab Plus Chemotherapy in Advanced Gastric/GEJ Cancer or Esophageal Adenocarcinoma

As reported in the Journal of Clinical Oncology, Markus Moehler, MD, and colleagues found that in the phase III CheckMate 649 trial, the addition of nivolumab to chemotherapy was associated with generally better patient-reported health-related quality of life outcomes in patients with advanced...

Gastroesophageal Cancer

Addition of First-Line Regorafenib to Nivolumab and Chemotherapy in Metastatic Esophageal Cancer

In a single-institution phase II study reported in The Lancet Oncology, Cytryn et al found that the combination of regorafenib, nivolumab, and FOLFOX (fluorouracil, leucovorin, and oxaliplatin) showed activity as a first-line treatment regimen for patients with HER2-negative metastatic...

Gastroesophageal Cancer

Novel Targeted Therapy Combination May Be an Effective First-Line Option for Gastric or Gastroesophageal Junction Adenocarcinoma

Researchers have found that the novel targeted therapy zolbetuximab in combination with a standard chemotherapy may extend survival in patients with advanced gastric or gastroesophageal junction adenocarcinoma and overexpression of the claudin-18 isoform 2 protein (CLDN18.2), according to a novel...

Gastroesophageal Cancer

Association of Pathologic Lymph Node Regression After Neoadjuvant Chemotherapy With Outcomes in Esophageal Adenocarcinoma

In a UK study reported in the Journal of Clinical Oncology, Moore et al found that increased pathologic lymph node regression after neoadjuvant chemotherapy was associated with better outcomes in esophageal adenocarcinoma. Study Details The study involved patients treated with neoadjuvant...

Gastroesophageal Cancer
Issues in Oncology

Improving Screening and Surveillance Practices for Early Cancer Detection in Patients With Barrett’s Esophagus

A recent study published in Gastroenterology by Wani et al found that at least a quarter of all esophageal adenocarcinomas may be detected within a year of a negative upper endoscopy in patients with newly diagnosed Barrett's esophagus. The investigators proposed methods for improving the efficacy...

Gastroesophageal Cancer
Gastrointestinal Cancer

Individual Patient Meta-analysis of Neoadjuvant Chemotherapy and Chemoradiotherapy for Esophageal or GEJ Carcinoma

In a meta-analysis reported in the Journal of Clinical Oncology, Faron et al found that neoadjuvant chemotherapy and chemoradiotherapy were associated with better survival vs upfront surgery in patients with thoracic esophageal or gastroesophageal junction (GEJ) carcinoma. Study Details The study...

Advertisement

Advertisement

Advertisement