Advances In The Treatment Of Gastrointestinal Cancers

Main Category: Colorectal Cancer
Also Included In: Cancer / Oncology;  GastroIntestinal / Gastroenterology
Article Date: 25 Jan 2008 - 2:00 PDT

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New research on the treatment of gastrointestinal cancers is being presented at the 5th annual Gastrointestinal Cancers Symposium, being held January 25-27 at the Orlando World Center Marriott. The presscast highlighting noteworthy studies can be accessed here.

Highlighted studies include:

- National analysis of 500,000 patient records showing that patients who are uninsured or have Medicaid are diagnosed with colorectal cancer at a more advanced stage than patients with private insurance or Medicare

- A study identifying a blood marker called colon cancer-specific antigen-2 (CCSA-2) that can accurately indicate the presence of colorectal cancer

- A study finding mutations in the KRAS gene are an indicator that patients with advanced colorectal cancer will not respond to the monoclonal antibody panitumumab (Vectibix)

"Studies show early diagnosis is critical to reducing mortality from colorectal cancers. Finding better methods of detection and ensuring that all patients have access is key to improving patient care," said Nicholas Petrelli, MD, an official with the Gastrointestinal Cancers Symposium. "As personalized medicine becomes more of a reality, we are increasingly able to treat patients with therapies that target their specific cancer type and avoid treatments that will not benefit their disease."

Gastrointestinal cancers include cancers of the esophagus, stomach, intestinal tract, pancreas, and liver and related organs. Approximately 263,000 people were diagnosed with these cancers in the United States in 2007. Among these, more than 150,000 people were diagnosed with colorectal cancer, and more than 52,000 died from the disease.

The Gastrointestinal Cancers Symposium is co-sponsored by the American Gastroenterological Association (AGA) Institute, the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO), the American Society for Therapeutic Radiology and Oncology (ASTRO) and the Society of Surgical Oncology (SSO).

American Society of Clinical Oncology