FDA Provides Safety Labeling Update for Capecitabine and Fluorouracil on Risks Associated With DPD Deficiency
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has provided communication to increase awareness of recent updates to the product labeling of capecitabine (Xeloda) and fluorouracil—indicated for colorectal, breast, gastric/esophageal/gastroesophageal, and pancreatic cancers—related to risks associated...
Novel HER2-Targeted Bispecific Benefits Outcomes in Gastroesophageal Cancer
In patients with advanced HER2-positive gastroesophageal adenocarcinoma, treatment with the bispecific antibody zanidatamab-hrii and chemotherapy, with or without the PD-1 inhibitor tislelizumab-jsgr, reduced the risk of disease progression or death by 35% over trastuzumab plus chemotherapy in the...
Consensus Recommendations Developed for Use of Liquid Nitrogen Spray Cryotherapy in Barrett's Esophagus, Esophageal Cancer
The Spray Cryotherapy Esophageal Consortium has developed a set of expert and evidence-based consensus recommendations guiding the use of liquid nitrogen spray cryotherapy in Barrett's esophagus and esophageal cancer. The recommendations, decided upon through a modified Delphi process, were...
American College of Surgeons Publishes Annual NCDB Report
The second annual report from the National Cancer Database (NCDB) of the American College of Surgeons (ACS) documents a substantial rise in neoadjuvant treatments, such as chemotherapy, immunotherapy, and hormone therapy, often allowing for less invasive surgery and helping clinicians assess how a...
Is Long-Term PPI Use Associated With Increased Gastric Cancer Risk?
Long-term proton pump inhibitor (PPI) use may not be associated with an increased risk of gastric adenocarcinoma, according to findings from a Nordic health study published by Duru et al The BMJ. According to the report's authors, “This finding should offer relief for patients needing long-term...
Novel HER2-Targeted Bispecific Improves Outcomes in Patients With Gastroesophageal Cancer
In patients with advanced HER2-positive gastroesophageal adenocarcinoma, treatment with the bispecific antibody zanidatamab-hrii and chemotherapy, with or without the PD-1 inhibitor tislelizumab-jsgr, reduced the risk of disease progression or death by 35% over trastuzumab plus chemotherapy in the...
Matthew Strickland, MD, on Locally Advanced Gastric/GEJ Cancer: Tislelizumab Plus Chemoradiotherapy
Matthew Strickland, MD, of Massachusetts General Hospital, reviews results from the phase IIb TERRIFIC trial, which compared the efficacy and safety of the PD-1 inhibitor tislelizumab plus chemoradiotherapy vs chemoradiotherapy or chemotherapy alone in the neoadjuvant treatment of patients with gastric or gastroesophageal junction adenocarcinoma (Abstract 286).
Daniela Molena, MD, on Surgical Journey in the MATTERHORN Trial
Daniela Molena, MD, of Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, discusses a comparison of the surgical journeys of patients with resectable gastric/gastroesophageal adenocarcinoma who either received fluorouracil, leucovorin, oxaliplatin, and docetaxel (FLOT) plus durvalumab or FLOT plus placebo in the MATTERHORN study (Abstract 353).
Elena Elimova, MD, on HER2-Positive Gastroesophageal Cancer: Zanidatamab Plus Chemotherapy
Elena Elimova, MD, of Princess Margaret Cancer Centre, presents findings from the primary analysis of the phase III HERIZON-GEA-01 trial, which evaluated zanidatamab, a dual HER2-targeted bispecific antibody, plus chemotherapy with or without the PD-1 inhibitor tislelizumab vs trastuzumab plus chemotherapy as first line-regimens for HER2-positive locally advanced, unresectable, or metastatic gastroesophageal adenocarcinoma (Abstract LBA285).
Elizabeth Smyth, MD, on FLOT Administration in the MATTERHORN Trial
Elizabeth Smyth, MD, of the Oxford NIHR Biomedical Research Centre, Churchill Hospital, presents findings from an analysis of the MATTERHORN trial, a phase III study that examined fluorouracil, leucovorin, oxaliplatin, and docetaxel (FLOT) plus durvalumab in patients with resectable gastric/gastroesophageal junction cancer. Dr. Smyth discusses rates of FLOT discontinuation along with event-free survival based on FLOT completion status in the trial (Abstract 343).
Samuel J. Klempner, MD, on Advanced Gastric/GEJ Cancer: Zolbetuximab Plus mFOLFOX6 and Nivolumab
Samuel J. Klempner, MD, of Massachusetts General Hospital, discusses results from the phase II ILUSTRO trial, which evaluated the combination of the anti-CLDN18.2 antibody zolbetuximab plus mFOLFOX6 and nivolumab in patients with CLDN18.2-positive; HER2-negative; locally advanced, unresectable, or metastatic gastric/gastroesophageal junction (GEJ) adenocarcinoma (Abstract LBA284).
HER2-Positive Gastroesophageal Cancer: Zanidatamab Plus Chemotherapy Prolongs Progression-Free Survival
Results from a new phase III study showed that in patients with HER2-positive metastatic gastroesophageal adenocarcinoma, the combination of the dual HER2-targeted bispecific antibody zanidatamab and chemotherapy, with or without the PD-1 inhibitor tislelizumab, extended progression-free survival....
Neoadjuvant Dual ICI Blockade vs Perioperative FLOT in dMMR/MSI-H Gastroesophageal Adenocarcinoma
In an individual-patient pooled analysis reported in the Journal of Clinical Oncology, Raimondi et al found that neoadjuvant treatment with dual CTLA-4/PD-(L)1 immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) was associated with higher pathologic response rates vs perioperative FLOT (fluorouracil, leucovorin,...
Primary Analysis Shows Survival Benefit With Bemarituzumab Plus Chemotherapy in Gastric or Gastroesophageal Junction Cancer
The addition of bemarituzumab, a first-in-class anti-FGFR2b antibody, to mFOLFOX6 chemotherapy significantly improved overall survival in patients with FGFR2b-overexpressing (≥ 10% tumor cell staining) unresectable, locally advanced or metastatic gastric or gastroesophageal junction cancer,...
Final Overall Survival Confirms Benefit of Durvalumab Plus FLOT in Resectable Gastric and Gastroesophageal Junction Adenocarcinomas
The addition of the PD-L1–targeting monoclonal antibody durvalumab to conventional perioperative chemotherapy with fluorouracil, leucovorin, oxaliplatin, and docetaxel (FLOT) resulted in a statistically significant and clinically meaningful improvement in overall survival, with benefit seen...
FDA Approves Durvalumab With FLOT for Resectable Gastric/GEJ Adenocarcinoma
On November 25, 2025, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved durvalumab (Imfinzi) in combination with fluorouracil, leucovorin, oxaliplatin, and docetaxel (FLOT) chemotherapy as neoadjuvant and adjuvant treatment, followed by single-agent durvalumab, for the treatment of adult...
Primary Analysis Shows Survival Benefit With Bemarituzumab Plus Chemotherapy in Gastric or Gastroesophageal Junction Cancer
The addition of bemarituzumab, a first-in-class anti-FGFR2b antibody, to mFOLFOX6 chemotherapy significantly improved overall survival in patients with FGFR2b-overexpressing (≥ 10% tumor cell staining) unresectable, locally advanced or metastatic gastric or gastroesophageal junction cancer,...
Final Overall Survival Confirms Benefit of Durvalumab Plus FLOT in Resectable Gastric and Gastroesophageal Junction Adenocarcinomas
The addition of the PD-L1–targeting monoclonal antibody durvalumab to conventional perioperative chemotherapy with fluorouracil, leucovorin, oxaliplatin, and docetaxel (FLOT) resulted in a statistically significant and clinically meaningful improvement in overall survival, with benefit seen...
Neoadjuvant Dual ICI Blockade vs Perioperative FLOT in dMMR/MSI-H Gastroesophageal Adenocarcinoma
In an individual-patient pooled analysis reported in the Journal of Clinical Oncology, Raimondi et al found that neoadjuvant treatment with dual CTLA-4/PD-(L)1 immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) was associated with higher pathologic response rates vs perioperative FLOT (fluorouracil, leucovorin,...
AGA Issues New Guideline Urging Risk-Based Surveillance in Barrett’s Esophagus
The American Gastroenterological Association (AGA) has released an updated clinical practice guideline on surveillance of Barrett’s esophagus, the only known precursor to esophageal adenocarcinoma. The new guideline, which was published in Gastroenterology, emphasizes risk-based, individualized...
Antidepressants May Improve Surgical Outcomes in Patients With GI Cancer and Depression
New research revealed that depression can impact surgical outcomes, making it more difficult for patients to recover from surgery, thus leading to higher postoperative costs as well. In patients with gastrointestinal cancers and depression who were undergoing surgery specifically, antidepressants...
Pulsed Low-Dose–Rate Chemoradiation Reduces Severe Esophagitis in Esophageal Cancer and NSCLC
Chemoradiation with a pulsed low-dose–rate technique led to lower-than-usual rates of severe esophagitis without compromising efficacy in patients with esophageal and non–small cell lung cancer (NSCLC), according to findings from a single-arm phase I study presented as a poster during the American...
Pembrolizumab Plus Chemotherapy vs Chemotherapy in Advanced Gastric Cancers: Final Survival Analysis From KEYNOTE-585
As reported in the Journal of Clinical Oncology by Shitara et al, the final overall survival analysis from the phase III KEYNOTE-585 study showed a numeric—but statistically nonsignificant—benefit with pembrolizumab plus chemotherapy vs chemotherapy in perioperative therapy for patients with...
Can Autoimmune Diseases Increase the Risk of Digestive System Cancer?
In a systematic review and meta-analysis published in the journal eClinicalMedicine, Reizner et al highlighted bias-minimized insights into the associations between autoimmune diseases, such as celiac disease, systemic lupus erythematosus, multiple sclerosis, and type 1 diabetes, and the risk of...
Esophageal Adenocarcinoma Recurrence Patterns With Perioperative Chemotherapy vs Preoperative Chemoradiotherapy
In an analysis from the German phase III ESOPEC trial reported in the Journal of Clinical Oncology, Hoeppner et al found that perioperative chemotherapy reduced distant recurrence vs preoperative chemoradiotherapy in patients with nonmetastatic esophageal adenocarcinoma. The primary analysis of the ...
Perioperative Therapy With Durvalumab Plus FLOT: A Potential New Standard of Care in Gastric or Gastroesophageal Junction Cancer
In patients with resectable gastric or gastroesophageal junction (GEJ) adenocarcinoma, perioperative treatment with the checkpoint inhibitor durvalumab in combination with standard chemotherapy significantly reduced the risk of recurrence or death by 29% in the phase III MATTERHORN trial. The...
Literature Review Highlights Rising Incidence and Disparities in Many Early-Onset GI Cancers
Rates of early-onset gastrointestinal cancers, beyond just colorectal cancer, are rising among people younger than age 50, according to experts from Dana-Farber Cancer Institute. Researchers from Dana-Farber published a literature review in the British Journal of Surgery showing that cases of newly ...
Zanidatamab Plus Chemotherapy in Advanced HER2-Positive Gastroesophageal Adenocarcinoma
In a phase II trial reported in The Lancet Oncology, Elimova et al evaluated the efficacy and safety of the bispecific monoclonal antibody zanidatamab plus chemotherapy in the first-line treatment of patients with advanced HER2-positive gastroesophageal adenocarcinoma. Study Details In the trial,...
In Second-Line Setting, T-DXd Improves Survival Outcomes in HER2-Positive Gastric or Gastroesophageal Junction Cancer
In the phase III DESTINY-Gastric04 trial, use of the antibody-drug conjugate fam-trastuzumab deruxtecan-nxki (T-DXd) was compared head to head with the monoclonal antibody ramucirumab and paclitaxel in patients with previously treated, HER2-positive metastatic gastric or gastroesophageal junction...
Addition of Lenvatinib/Pembrolizumab to Chemotherapy in Advanced/Metastatic Gastroesophageal Adenocarcinoma
In an interim analysis of the phase III LEAP-015 trial reported in the Journal of Clinical Oncology, Shitara et al examined the survival benefit of adding lenvatinib-pembrolizumab to chemotherapy in patients with advanced/metastatic gastroesophageal adenocarcinoma. Study Details In the open-label...
First-Line Nivolumab Plus Low-Dose Ipilimumab in MSI-H Advanced Gastric/GEJ Cancer
In a Japanese phase II study (NO LIMIT, WJOG13320G) reported in the Journal of Clinical Oncology, Kawakami et al evaluated whether first-line nivolumab plus low-dose ipilimumab showed activity in patients with microsatellite instability–high (MSI-H) advanced gastric/esophagogastric junction ...
ASCO 2025: Perioperative Durvalumab Boosts FLOT Chemotherapy Benefit for Patients With Gastric Cancers
Results from an international phase III clinical trial found that treating patients with stage II, III, and IVA resectable gastric cancer and gastroesophageal junction (GEJ) cancer with perioperative durvalumab and FLOT chemotherapy (fluorouracil, leucovorin, oxaliplatin, and docetaxel) helped...
Trastuzumab Deruxtecan Improves Survival Outcomes in Patients With HER2-Positive Gastric/GEJ Cancer in Second-Line Setting
The international phase III DESTINY-Gastric04 clinical trial found that second-line treatment with fam-trastuzumab deruxtecan-nxki can help people with advanced HER2-positive gastric cancers that have grown during first-line treatment live about 3 months longer. These findings further support the...
First-Line TFOX vs FOLFOX in Advanced HER2-Negative Gastric or Gastroesophageal Junction Adenocarcinoma
In a French phase III trial (PRODIGE 51-FFCD-GASTFOX) reported in The Lancet Oncology, Zaanan et al found that a modified FLOT (fluorouracil, oxaliplatin, and docetaxel) regimen known as TFOX (docetaxel, folinic acid, oxaliplatin, and fluorouracil) improved outcomes vs FOLFOX (folinic acid,...
NCCN Clinical Practice Guidelines in Oncology: 2025 Updates
The National Comprehensive Cancer Network (NCCN) released its first set of Clinical Practice Guidelines in Oncology (NCCN Guidelines®) in 1996, covering eight tumor types. Today, guidelines are available for more than 60 tumor types, subtypes, and related topics. During the NCCN’s 30th Annual...
Early-Stage Stomach Cancer Diagnoses on the Rise
Stomach cancers are increasingly being diagnosed at less advanced, more treatable stages—a shift that marks major progress in detecting one of the deadliest forms of cancer, according to a study presented at Digestive Disease Week® (DDW) 2025 (Abstract Sa1374). “These trends suggest that...
Advanced Esophageal Cancer: NOTCH1 Mutation and Efficacy of Tislelizumab
In an analysis from the phase III RATIONALE-302 trial reported in the Journal of Clinical Oncology, Lu et al found that the presence of NOTCH1 mutation was associated with improved overall survival in patients receiving second-line tislelizumab vs investigator’s choice of chemotherapy for advanced...
Neoantigen-Selected TILs Boost Response to Immunotherapy in Heavily Pretreated GI Cancers
Neoantigen-specific tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes (TILs) in combination with the PD-1 inhibitor pembrolizumab led to responses among patients with metastatic gastrointestinal cancers, according to the results of a study from researchers at the National Institutes of Health published in Nature...
Neoadjuvant Chemoradiotherapy Plus Immunotherapy in Esophageal Squamous Cell Carcinoma
Neoadjuvant therapy that combines chemotherapy, radiotherapy, and the investigational PD-1 inhibitor sintilimab led to a significantly higher pathologic complete response rate in patients with locally advanced esophageal squamous cell carcinoma, according to data presented at the 2025 ASCO...
FDA Approves Pembrolizumab for HER2-Positive Gastric or GEJ Cancer Expressing PD-L1
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has granted traditional approval to the PD-L1 inhibitor pembrolizumab (Keytruda) with trastuzumab, fluoropyrimidine-, and platinum-containing chemotherapy for the first-line treatment of adults with locally advanced unresectable or metastatic...
Consumer Survey Reveals Common Misconceptions About HPV and HPV-Related Cancer
A large proportion of individuals may be unaware of the risk of human papillomavirus (HPV) infections and cancer among men, according to a recent consumer survey commissioned by The Ohio State University Comprehensive Cancer Center–Arthur G. James Cancer Hospital and Richard J. Solove Research...
Locally Advanced Gastric Cancer: Adjuvant or Perioperative Therapy With D2 Resection
As reported in The Lancet Oncology by Zhang et al, final outcomes of the Chinese phase III RESOLVE trial showed improved overall survival with adjuvant S-1 and oxaliplatin (SOX) and perioperative SOX vs adjuvant capecitabine/oxaliplatin (CapOx) in patients with locally advanced gastric or...
Perioperative Chemotherapy vs Preoperative Chemoradiotherapy in Resectable Locally Advanced Esophageal Carcinoma
In a German phase III trial (ESOPEC) reported in The New England Journal of Medicine, Hoeppner et al found that perioperative chemotherapy with fluorouracil/leucovorin/oxaliplatin/docetaxel (FLOT) improved overall survival vs preoperative chemoradiotherapy in patients undergoing surgery for locally ...
Novel Antibody-Drug Conjugate in Advanced Gastric/Gastroesophageal Junction Cancer
In a Chinese phase I trial (KYM901) reported in The Lancet Oncology, Ruan et al found that CMG901—a first-in-class claudin 18.2–targeting antibody-drug conjugate—had manageable toxicity and activity in patients with advanced gastric or gastroesophageal junction (GEJ) cancer. CMG901 comprises a...
Role of Cancer Gene in Esophageal Adenocarcinoma May Support Paradigm Shift in Predicting Disease
A genetic mutation long believed to drive the development of esophageal cancer may play a protective role early in the disease, according to a recent study published by Ganguli et al in Nature Cancer. The findings could help physicians identify which patients are at greater risk of developing...
Adding Chemoradiation in Perioperative Gastric Cancer Treatment Improves Pathologic Response Rates Without Survival Benefit
Adding chemoradiation to perioperative chemotherapy improves pathologic complete response rates in patients with resectable gastric cancer but does not extend overall survival, according to data presented at the European Society for Medical Oncology (ESMO) Congress 20241 and published...
Poor Diets May Increase Risk of Gastrointestinal Cancer
New research may expand on existing evidence that a healthy diet may protect against gastrointestinal cancers and improve disease outcomes, according to a recent study published by Abebe et al in the European Journal of Nutrition. Background Gastrointestinal cancers including esophageal, gastric,...
Ramucirumab/Paclitaxel as Switch Maintenance in Advanced HER2-Negative Gastric/Gastroesophageal Junction Cancer
In an Italian phase III study (ARMANI) reported in The Lancet Oncology, Randon et al found that switch maintenance with ramucirumab/paclitaxel was associated with significantly improved progression-free survival vs continuation of first-line oxaliplatin-based chemotherapy in patients with advanced...
FDA Approves Oral Liquid Imatinib to Treat Patients With Leukemia and Other Cancer Types
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) announced the approval of imatinib (Imkeldi) oral solution, the first oral liquid formulation of the drug to treat certain types of leukemias and other cancers. Background In 2024, an estimated 9,280 patients will be diagnosed with chronic myeloid...
KEYNOTE-811: Pembrolizumab Combination in First-Line Setting Improves Overall Survival in Gastric Cancer
In the final per-protocol analysis of the phase III KEYNOTE-811 trial, an overall survival benefit was shown by adding the PD-1 inhibitor pembrolizumab to trastuzumab and chemotherapy in treatment-naive, unresectable, HER2-positive metastatic gastric or gastroesophageal junction adenocarcinoma.1...
