Gastrointestinal Cancer News

SAN FRANCISCO — Among patients with previously treated HER-2–positive locally advanced or metastatic gastric or gastroesophageal junction adenocarcinoma, second-line trastuzumab emtansine did not demonstrate superior efficacy compared with a taxane in a phase 2/3 trial, according to data presented at the Gastrointestinal Cancers Symposium.

Sixty-nine NCI-designated cancer centers today issued a call for action to urge an increase in HPV vaccination rates for the prevention of cancer.

Gadoxetic acid–enhanced MRI was accurate in the detection of portal vein thrombosis in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma, as well as for differentiating between malignant and benign portal vein thrombosis, according to published findings.

SAN FRANCISCO — Daniel V. T. Catenacci, MD, a GI medical oncologist at the University of Chicago, recaps his discussion following the presentation of three abstracts at the Gastrointestinal Cancers Symposium.

The cumulative use of several antiretrovirals, including d-drugs Zerit, Videx, Viread and Agenerase, were independently associated with increased rates of end-stage liver disease and hepatocellular carcinoma among adults with HIV.

During the 10 years following a negative screening sigmoidoscopy, the risk for colorectal cancer doubled in the second 5 years of follow-up, compared to the first 5 years. However, the risk remained lower than that of the population levels. 

Optimal completeness of resection and tumor downstaging appear to occur when patients with rectal cancer undergo surgery 8 weeks following neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy, according to the results of a retrospective study.

Annual fecal immunochemical testing appeared highly sensitive for colorectal cancer detection, according to results of a retrospective longitudinal study.

SAN FRANCISCO — Vistogard is a safe and effective life-saving antidote for cancer patients who overdosed on 5-fluorouracil or capecitabine or exhibited early-onset, severe or life-threatening toxicity, according to a poster presented at the Gastrointestinal Cancers Symposium.

Originally launched in 2013, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center’s Moon Shots Program recently expanded its campaign to include six more of the most problematic cancer types.