2025 ASCO GI Cancers Symposium Trial Highlights
Findings from CALGB/SWOG 80702 and ALTAIR studies were presented during 2025 ASCO GI Cancers Symposium, held January 23-25th. Click on the trial titles to view full articles. CALGB/SWOG 80702 (NCT01150045) Positive ctDNA status is linked to worse DFS in stage III resected colon cancer, but celecoxib improves outcomes in ctDNA-positive patients. ctDNA status is prognostic for DFS and OS, and predictive of celecoxib benefit in the CALGB/SWOG [...]
2025 ASCO Gastrointestinal Cancers Symposium
2025 ASCO GI Symposium will be held January 23-25th. You can preview abstract titles that will be presented during the meeting using the below link. Meeting highlights will be posted in February. Abstract Title Preview
Community Connections: COLONTOWN
Are you a CRC patient or care partner who wants to connect with people like you? If so, check out COLONTOWN. It is an online community that provides knowledge and support to patients, survivors, and caregivers. Link to community website: COLONTOWN
NCI Cancer Currents Blog
Sharon Reynolds discusses recent trials that show how ctDNA can be used to guide treatment after CRC surgery. Link to Blog: ctDNA May Guide Who Needs Chemo After Colorectal Cancer Surgery
ASCO Daily News: GALAXY – ctDNA Negativity Linked to Improved DFS in Resectable Colorectal Cancer
In an article, Dr. Hiroki Yukami discusses findings from the GALAXY trial presented during the 2024 ASCO Gastrointestinal Cancers Symposium. “These results show that ctDNA is a promising prognostic and predictive marker for recurrence.”—Dr. Hiroki Yukami
Targeted Oncology: Risk of Recurrent Colorectal Cancer Following Definitive Therapy
In this Targeted Oncology video, Dr. Yoshiaki Nakamur discusses the utility of tissue-free ctDNA testing to predict recurrence in CRC patients.
ASCO Daily News: ctDNA Testing Affects Well-Being, Reducing Anxiety in Patients With CRC
In an article, Dr. Jasenka Piljac Zegarac summarizes Dr. Pashtoon M. Kasi and colleagues' findings related to ctDNA testing and well-being in CRC patients, which were presented at the 2024 ASCO Gastrointestinal Cancers Symposium. “ctDNA should be viewed as one added (and probably one of the most powerful) tool in the toolbox instead of a standalone variable.”—Dr. Pashtoon M. Kasi
2024 ESMO Congress Meeting
European Society For Medical Oncology (ESMO) Congress 2024 Meeting is being held Friday, September 13th through Tuesday, September 17th, with numerous sessions and posters related to minimal residual disease in colorectal cancer. Highlighted Sessions and Posters Transcriptional features of stage IIT4N0/III colon cancer associated with residual disease and ctDNA status after surgery in the PEGASUS trial Preliminary analysis in Protector-C study: A prospective, multicenter cohort of utilizing [...]
ASCO Daily News: 2024 ASCO Gastrointestinal Cancers Symposium
Drs. Shaalan Beg and Aparna Parikh present ASCO Daily News Podcast: How ctDNA Is Advancing Care for Patients With GI Cancers.
Cancer Network’s Around the Practice Series “ctDNA Analysis to Direct Treatment Decisions in Colorectal Cancer”
Cancer Network posts 12-episode series titled "ctDNA Analysis to Direct Treatment Decisions in Colorectal Cancer" in which expert panelists discuss clinical trials and circulating tumor DNA's (ctDNA) role in directing treatment.
Cancer Network’s Around the Practice Series “Expert Insights Into Testing and Treatment for Metastatic Colorectal Cancer (mCRC)”
Two episodes in Cancer Network series "Expert Insights Into Testing and Treatment for Metastatic Colorectal Cancer (mCRC) discuss the importance of circulating tumor DNA (ctDNA) in diagnosis, molecular testing, and treatment. EP. 2: The Evolving Landscape of Biomarker Testing in Metastatic Colorectal Cancer (mCRC) EP. 3: Common Testing Strategies for Molecular Markers in mCRC
Cancer Network’s Around the Practice Series “The Future of Decision-Making in Colorectal Cancer: ctDNA’s Emerging Role”
Cancer Network posts 12-episode series titled "The Future of Decision-Making in Colorectal Cancer: ctDNA's Emerging Role" in which expert panelists discuss management of colorectal cancer using minimal residual disease (MRD) and circulating tumor DNA (ctDNA) testing and clinical trial outcomes.
Understanding the Most Common Definition of MRD in Medical Literature
Giulia Maddalena, a clinical oncologist by education and research trainee at MD Anderson Cancer Center, discusses how medical literature defines MRD and shares your survey results regarding what is your preferred definition. In cancer research, the importance of MRD has been growing, extending its relevance from hematologic malignancies to solid tumors. However, it stands for different definitions according to the specific context: Minimal Residual Disease, Molecular Residual [...]
Study finds promising new blood test for detecting colorectal cancer
Health article discussing new blood test developed by Guardant Health that accurately identified colorectal cancer in 83% of patients with confirmed disease by detected circulating tumor DNA (ctDNA).
2024 ASCO Annual Meeting
American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) 2024 Annual Meeting is being held Friday, May 31st through Tuesday, June 4th, with numerous scheduled sessions related to minimal residual disease in colorectal cancer. Highlighted Sessions and Posters Use of MRD-Guided Strategies to Optimize Therapeutic Interventions Circulating Biomarkers: Who, What, Where, When, and Why? Gastrointestinal Cancer—Colorectal and Anal Abstracts and Posters Clinical validation of a novel circulating tumor DNA [...]
Cancer Network’s Around the Practice Series “ASCO GI 2024: Updates in MRD Testing for the Management of Colorectal Cancer”
Cancer Network posts 15-episode series "ASCO GI 2024: Updates in MRD Testing for the Management of Colorectal Cancer" in which medical oncologists highlight clinical trials presented at ASCO GI 2024 and discuss the utility of minimal residual disease (MRD) and circulating tumor DNA (ctDNA).
Cancer Network’s Around the Practice Series “ctDNA in Treatment Decisions and Monitoring”
Cancer Network posts 10-episode series titled "Around the Practice: ctDNA in Treatment Decisions and Monitoring" in which expert oncologists discuss current and future use of minimal residual disease (MRD) and circulating tumor DNA (ctDNA) in colorectal cancer.
A Patient-in-Waiting : An opinion piece from CRC caregiver on ctDNA Testing
In the ever-evolving landscape of cancer diagnosis and treatment, scientists and researchers are continually seeking innovative ways to improve patient outcomes. One such breakthrough in the field of oncology is the use of ctDNA (circulating tumor DNA) liquid biopsies. These cutting-edge tests have the potential to revolutionize cancer detection and management, offering hope to patients and healthcare providers alike. A recent article on STAT News, titled "ctDNA Liquid Biopsy: [...]
Dr. Sam Klempner discusses the use of circulating tumor DNA (ctDNA) testing to monitor for minimal residual disease (MRD) in GI cancer
In this session, Dr Sam Klempner from Massachusetts General Hospital discusses the use of circulating tumor DNA (ctDNA) testing to monitor for minimal residual disease (MRD) in GI cancer. https://youtu.be/HSMwPqhGVxo?si=_z2RUr2gkXmAT8Hj
The Changing Landscape of MRD Testing for Colorectal Cancer: What’s New in 2023?
In this presentation, the Dr. John Stricker discusses the use of circulating tumor DNA (ctDNA) testing in colorectal cancer patients to guide treatment decisions. The presentation includes discussions on the sensitivity and specificity of ctDNA testing and its potential impact on treatment strategies. Several case studies are presented, highlighting the challenges and considerations when interpreting ctDNA results, especially in the context of adjuvant chemotherapy decisions for stage two colorectal [...]
The current state of MRD testing in colorectal cancer
Afsaneh Barzi, MD, PhD, City of Hope, Duarte, CA, provides an overview of the clinical impact of minimal residual disease (MRD) testing in colorectal cancer, and strategies to optimize sensitivity. False negatives may occur during testing, and there is no definite treatment regimen for patients who are MRD positive post-surgery. MRD testing alone should additionally not determine whether patients should receive adjuvant therapy. Dr Barzi also highlights disparities in [...]
Dr. Y. Nancy You shares what young adults should know about colon cancer.
Dr. Y. Nancy You shares what young adults should know about colon cancer. https://youtu.be/Vb8R1bCtCDw?si=nK7kwb9AhAC8Fumf
Efficacy of Immunotherapies in Microsatellite Stable Colorectal Cancer
Benny Johnson, DO, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, discusses strategies to enhance the efficacy of immunotherapies in microsatellite stable (MSS) colorectal cancer, a subtype that is typically immunologically cold. Targeting pathways such as VEGF and developing TKIs may provide a path for immunotherapies to be efficacious. Cellular therapies such as CAR-T cell therapies and neoantigen vaccines with checkpoint inhibition additionally represent promising strategies on [...]
Dr. Kanwal Raghav presents RX-CROME clinical trial overview
Dr. Kanwal Raghav provides an overview of upcoming clinical trial, RX-CROME, for high-risk patients with Colorectal Cancer with radiographic occult molecular residual disease. . For Phase 1 discussion of XmAB20717: Preliminary clinical experience with XmAb20717, a PD-1 x CTLA-4 bispecific antibody, in patients with advanced solid tumors: https://jitc.bmj.com/content/9/Suppl_2/A553 NCI information of XMAB20717: https://www.mycancergenome.org/content/drugs/xmab20717/
Meet Dr. Sepideh Gholami. She is a liver and pancreas surgeon and a cancer researcher.
https://www.facebook.com/watch/?v=2336148976637482 Meet Dr. Sepideh Gholami. She is a liver and pancreas surgeon and a cancer researcher. She believes in innovative, personalized medical treatment to achieve the best oncologic outcomes and highest quality of care.
Colorectal Cancer Screenings
Colorectal cancer screenings: Key tips for early detection Dr. Cedrek McFadden shares the screening options available to help early detection of colorectal cancer, the second most common cause of cancer death in the U.S.
Get screened at Advanced Body Scan for Colon Cancer Awareness Month | Houston Life
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CftKORJUWeA
What is a ‘liquid biopsy’ and how does it monitor colorectal cancer?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SYrsSV36-uk
Enterome CLAUDE study announcement
Dr. Arvind Dasari reviews how the current study will evaluate the microbiome-derived therapeutic vaccine EO2040 in combination with nivolumab in patients with circulating tumor DNA-defined Minimal Residual Disease (MRD) of colorectal cancer stage II, III, or IV after completion of standard curative therapy. https://youtu.be/Fzu48PE5V_Q
Survival in metastatic colorectal cancer has improved, but further drug development needed
Survival for patients with metastatic colorectal cancer has improved steadily since 2012, according to retrospective study results. Researchers attributed this trend to several factors, including use of immunotherapy, surgical resection of liver metastases and use of third-line chemotherapy. The analysis included 1,420 patients with de novo metastatic colorectal cancer who received their primary treatment at The University of MD Anderson Cancer Center from 2004 through 2019. Despite survival improvements, results showed [...]
Dr. Morris on the Investigation of the Role of ctDNA in Stage II CRC
Van K. Morris, MD, discusses the evaluation of circulating tumor as a predictive biomarker for the use of adjuvant chemotherapy in patients with low-risk, stage II colon cancer. https://www.onclive.com/view/dr-morris-on-the-investigation-of-the-role-of-ctdna-in-stage-ii-crc
Dr. Arvind Dasari – Results from the DYNAMIC Study
Dr. Arvind Dasari reviews the reported results of the DYNAMIC study, in which a circulating tumor DNA (ctDNA)-guided approach reduced the use of adjuvant chemotherapy without compromising recurrence-free survival in patients with stage II colon cancer.
Dr. Alisha Bent – The DAILY Study
Dr. Alisha Bent, Assistant Professor of Gastrointestinal Medical Oncology at University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center introduces a clinical trial, The Daily Study. This study aims to uncover the impact of intensive lifestyle interventions in the setting of colorectal cancers and with the use of ctDNA surveillance. ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT05036109 Dr. Alisha Bent, Assistant Professor of Gastrointestinal Medical Oncology at University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center [...]
Discussion of DYNAMIC study results
Dr. Mike Overman discusses the reported results of the DYNAMIC study with Dr. Jeanne Tie in this ASCO Post video, in which a circulating tumor DNA (ctDNA)-guided approach reduced the use of adjuvant chemotherapy without compromising recurrence-free survival in patients with stage II colon cancer.
ColonTown “Doc Talk” by Dr. Chris Lieu on ctDNA screening and CIRCULATE-US
n this DocTalk, Dr. Chris Lieu goes over CRC screening tests, including newer DNA-based tests that focus on CRC and multi-cancer early detection tests, designed for patients without a history of colon cancer. In the second part of his talk, he covers the CIRCULATE-US trial for high-risk stage II and III colon cancer patients, which as of May 2022 is currently enrolling. This trial will address questions around the [...]
ColonTown “Doc Talks” on ctDNA for Patients with Liver Metastases
Circulating tumor DNA can be used to define minimal residual disease after resection of liver metastases. Despite surgical resection, the rates of recurrence (and post-operative minimal residual disease) are higher in this setting (stage IV) than in early stages of the disease. Here from expert Tim Newhook, a hepatobiliary surgeon with expertise in colorectal liver metastases and ctDNA, on the the potential for ctDNA to provide prognostic information and [...]
Colontown University “Doc Talk” on MRD
Circulating tumor DNA can be a bit mystifying. A number of clinical trials are being initiated (check out the current listings here) and there are questions about how to use these assays in clinical management now. Thanks to Colontown University for hosting a Doc Talk on this, where a number of important topics are covered, including minimal residual disease, single tests vs multiple tests, recent updates from GI [...]