The 2015 ASCO Gastrointestinal Cancers Symposium

The 2015 ASCO Gastrointestinal Cancers Symposium, held last month in San Francisco, brought together oncology professionals to highlight the latest research and science in cancers of the pancreas, small bowel, hepatobiliary tract, colon and rectum, esophagus and stomach.

Top stories include:

• Addition of oxaliplatin to FOLFIRI and bevacizumab doubled 5-year survival.

• MM-398 improved survival in metastatic pancreatic cancer patients when added to 5-FU/leucovorin chemotherapy.

• Metastatic colorectal cancer patients with higher vitamin D levels had better outcomes after treatment with chemotherapy and a targeted agent.

• Surgery may not be necessary for all rectal cancer patients, as those with a clinical complete response after neoadjuvant therapy had similar 4-year survival rates as patients who underwent surgery.

• Ramucirumab in the second-line setting resulted in a survival advantage for hepatocellular carcinoma patients with baseline AFP levels greater than 400 ng/mL, and the drug also improved survival in advanced colorectal cancer when combined with chemotherapy.

• A phase II study found that the TKI famitinib delayed disease progression in metastatic colorectal cancer patients.

Other News From GI ASCO:

Adjusted Regime of Abraxane and Gemzar Less Toxic in Pancreatic Cancer
Changing the administration schedule for Gemzar (gemcitabine) plus Abraxane (nab-paclitaxel) from weekly to every other week significantly reduced side effects without impacting efficacy as a frontline treatment for patients with metastatic pancreatic cancer, according to a retrospective study presented at the 2015 GI Cancers Symposium.
http://www.curetoday.com/articles/Adjusted-Regimen-of-Abraxane-and-Gemzar-Less-Toxic-in-Pancreatic-Cancer#sthash.GlHNOcoz.dpuf

FDA fast tracks necuparanib for metastatic pancreatic cancer
http://www.healio.com/gastroenterology/oncology/news/online/%7B25bcab55-77a3-499e-ad1a-9f55b56a7bd1%7D/fda-fast-tracks-necuparanib-for-metastatic-pancreatic-cancer

FIRGEM regimen effective in metastatic pancreatic cancer
http://www.healio.com/hematology-oncology/gastrointestinal-cancer/news/online/%7Be0111bd0-4dcf-41ab-915b-24e538f37d2c%7D/firgem-regimen-effective-in-metastatic-pancreatic-cancer