ESMO 14th World Congress on Gastrointestinal Cancer

Prof Alberto Sobrero talks to ecancertv at the ESMO 14th World Congress on Gastrointestinal Cancer in Barcelona about the CORRECT phase III study with the oral multi-kinase inhibitor regorafenib. The study showed a significant overall survival benefit in favour of regorafenib versus placebo in patients with metastatic colorectal cancer (mCRC) whose disease has progressed after approved standard therapies. In addition to talking about the trial’s findings and their significance, Prof Sobrero looks at the features that could set regorafenib from other molecularly-targeted treatments for mCRC. He also notes that regorafenib has just been given priory review status by the Food and Drug Administration, which means that the drug could be available in the US within 6 months rather than the usual 10-12 months if it proves successful.

Dr Camillo Porta talks to ecancertv at the 14th World Congress on Gastrointestinal Cancer in Barcelona about promising new data with tivantinib in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) In the phase 2 study tivantinib was tested as a single-agent for the second-line treatment of advanced liver cancer versus placebo. Results showed significantly improved time to tumour progression, progression-free- and overall survival, in the tivantinib-treated versus the placebo-treated patients. Dr Porta describes how c-MET expression may also be a marker of whether patients will respond well to this therapy, with high expression linked to better outcomes.

Dr Tarbar, a gastroenterologist and medical oncologists, talks to ecancertv at the 14th World Congress on Gastrointestinal Cancer in Barcelona. In the interview Dr Tarabar discusses the problem of colorectal cancer (CRC) in younger people. He also highlights a new initiative set up by EuropaColon called Young Voices United against CRC that was launched at the meeting. The programme aims to help support the growing number of young people affected by CRC in Europe. More information can be found on the EuropaColon website.

Prof Ciardello talks to ecancertv at the ESMO 14th World Congress on Gastrointestinal Cancer in Barcelona. Disease-free survival, response rate and overall survival are all important clinical endpoints commonly used in trials, but which is the best measure of outcome for use in gastrointestinal cancer (GI) studies? This was the topic for discussion during a session on clinical trials and endpoints. Prof Ciardello gives an overview of the session and highlights the importance of using pharmacodymanic endpoints in clinical trials of new, molecularly-targeted agents. Prof Ciardello also discuses highlights of the ESMO consensus conference in relation to colorectal cancer guidelines and optimal management for patients.

Founder and CEO of EuropaColon Jola Gore-Booth talks to ecancertv at the 14th World Congress on Gastrointestinal Cancer in Barcelona. In the interview, Ms Gore-Booth discusses some of the work the patient advocacy organisation does, including some of its latest initiatives. She highlights how early screening for colorectal cancer (CRC) saves lives yet very few European countries currently have formal population-based programmes. The lack of harmonisation needs to be addressed. Ms Gore-Booth also discusses patient access to the best available care and the vital role that clinical nurses specialists play in the care of patients with CRC.

Prof Josep Tabernero talks to ecancertv at the ESMO 14th World Congress on Gastrointestinal Cancer (WCGC) in Barcelona. In the interview, Prof Tabernero highlights several key studies with molecularly-targeted agents that were discussed at the meeting. In colorectal cancer this includes the TML study with bevacizumab, the CORRECT study with regorafenib, and the PETACC8 trial with cetuximab. He also highlights promising data in from a phase II study with a novel compound TH-302 in patients with inoperable, locally-advanced pancreatic cancer added to gemcitabine. Prof Tabernero also comments on why he thinks the CORRECT study findings are perhaps the most important of all these data to be presented at the ESMO 14th WCGC. This is because the late treatment-refractory population of patients studied currently have no other therapeutic options. Regorafenib therefore represent a possible new treatment option for these patients.

Prof Ducreux talks to ecancertv about data in metastatic colorectal cancer (mCRC) presented for the first time at the ESMO 14th World Congress on Gastrointestinal Cancer in Barcelona. First, he discusses the negative results of the FUTURE trial, an open-label, randomised, phase II trial of FOLFOX4 plus cetuximab versus UFOX plus cetuximab as first-line treatment for mCRC. He also highlights the “disappointing” results of the phase III PETACC8 trial, which looked at the use of cetuximab in addition to FOLFLOX4 in the adjuvant mCRC setting. These data add to previous negative results seen in the adjuvant setting. Prof Ducreux also comments on the general use and choice of molecularly targeted agents for mCRC.

Prof Salvatore Siena talks to ecancertv at the ESMO 14th World Congress on Gastrointestinal Cancer (WCGC) in Barcelona. In the interview he discusses the concept of personalised medicine, one of the major themes of this year’s WCGC. He notes that advances have been made in understanding the possible mechanisms of resistance to molecularly-targeted therapies for colorectal cancer (CRC). Prof Siena comments on some of the hot topics in CRC, such as the influence of Kras mutations on response to treatments such as cetuximab. He also notes that Kras mutations might be detectable in the peripheral blood. Prof Siena also gives his personal views on next steps in the field of gastrointestinal (GI) oncology in relation to CRC. This programme was supported by BAYER.

Dr Thierry André talks to ecancertv at the ESMO 14th World Congress on Gastrointestinal Cancer (WCGC) in Barcelona. As a medical oncologist with an interest in gastrointestinal cancer, Dr André gives his perspective on some of the important topics being discussed at the meeting. Specifically he mentions the use of new drugs for the management of patients with metastatic colorectal cancer (mCRC). Dr André also talks about the TML study that looked at the continuation of bevacizumab in the second line setting, commenting on results from new subgroup analyses presented at the WCGC. This programme was supported by BAYER.