Updates from the ESMO Gastrointestinal Cancers Congress 2025

The ESMO Gastrointestinal Cancers Congress 2025 is taking place in Barcelona, Spain, from 2 to 5 July 2025.

It brings together the global gastrointestinal oncology community to present and discuss impactful new research in GI cancers, alongside a comprehensive program of high-quality educational sessions.

Participants are gaining updates on state-of-the-art management of gastrointestinal malignancies, breakthroughs in molecular prevention, diagnosis, and precision therapy, and expert insights into research methodology, advocacy, policy, and regulation. The congress is accredited with 24 ESMO-MORA points, supporting ongoing recertification for medical oncologists.

LBAs are online

“The wait is over! Late-Breaking abstracts for the ESMO Gastrointestinal Cancers Congress 2025 (2–5 July, Barcelona) are now available.

Discover the latest innovations in GI oncology. Join the global oncology community in Barcelona or online.”

Announcing the ESMO Ambassadors

“ESMO GI 25: ESMO is excited to announce the ESMO Ambassadors.

Stay up to date about the Scientific Advancements in Gastrointestinal Cancers by following their updates.

Take part in the conversation by sharing your insights on the latest science presented at ESMO GI 25.”

Oligometastases – Current approaches

“ESMO Members: Join the ESMO Deep Dive Webinar on Oligometastases in Lung Cancer on 2 July! Our panel will explore the biological spectrum of oligometastases, the role of biomarkers, and prospective trials and multidisciplinary strategies for optimal care.

Register and be part of this discussion with Federico Cappuzzo, Anne-Marie C. Dingemans, Puneeth Iyengar, and Tetsuya Mitsudomi.”

Combinations show promise in hepatocellular carcinoma populations with poor prognosis

“Promising findings have been presented at ESMO GI 25 from studies with advanced Hepatocellular Carcinoma (HCC). In patients with HCC with FGF19 overexpression, the FGFR4 inhibitor irpagratinib, in combination with atezolizumab, produced responses in around half of patients in both pretreated and first-line subgroups.

A safety analysis of the phase IIIb SIERRA Clinical Trial found no unexpected concerns with first-line tremelimumab and durvalumab (STRIDE regimen) in patients with poor prognosis HCC. Efficacy data are awaited.

Read the full commentary in the ESMO Daily Reporter.”

Givastomig combined with immunochemotherapy shows clinical activity in metastatic gastro-oesophageal adenocarcinomas

“Preliminary data from a phase Ib clinical Trial presented at ESMO GI 25 suggest that a triple combination of givastomig (a first-in-class claudin [CLDN] 18.2/4-1BB bispecific antibody), nivolumab, and mFOLFOX has promising activity and an acceptable safety profile in patients with HER2-negative, CLDN18.2-positive, metastatic GastroEsophageal adenocarcinoma.
Responses occurred irrespective of PDL1 combined positive score and in patients with <75% CLDN18.2.

There were no dose-limiting toxicities, and the maximum tolerated dose was not reached.

Read the full article in the ESMO Daily Reporter.”

Decoding genomic and transcriptomic signatures in colorectal cancer – next steps?

“In her Keynote Lecture at ESMO GI 25, Federica Di Nicolantonio explains how expanding knowledge of the genomic and transcriptomic landscape of Colorectal Cancer (CRC), and the application of new technologies, have been instrumental in developing novel Cancer Treatment strategies.

As an example, single-cell technologies has enabled the identification of tumours that are genomically microsatellite stable but transcriptionally microsatellite unstable, thus increasing eligibility for immunotherapy.

AI is also facilitating the analysis of large datasets to identify previously unrecognised CRC-related driver genes and mutational signatures correlating with survival.

Read the full article in the ESMO Daily Reporter.”

Quality of Life data in immune oncology trials: from side note to centre stage?

“QoL data in ImmunoOncology trials: from side note to centre stage? In an Editorial in the ESMO Daily Reporter, Jorge Barriuso discusses the need for more robust and comparable implementation of QoL endpoints in Clinical Trial design.

The relatively early presentation of QoL data from the CheckMate 8HW and CheckMate 9DW ClinicalTrials at ESMOGI25 is welcomed as publication of QoL results is often delayed. Both trials report no detrimental effects of immunotherapy; however, QoL was only considered as exploratory endpoints.

The ESMO-Magnitude of Clinical Benefit Scale version 2 advocates for greater priority for QoL assessment in study protocols, ESMO MCBS.

Read the full article here.”

Atezolizumab and bevacizumab after transarterial chemoembolisation prolongs progression-free survival in unresectable hepatocellular carcinoma

“ESMO GI 25: Atezolizumab and bevacizumab after transarterial chemoembolisation (TACE) significantly prolonged progression-free survival versus TACE alone in patients with untreated, intermediate-to-high tumour burden, unresectable hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) according to late-breaking results from the phase III TALENTACE Clinical Trial.

Grade 3–4 treatment-related adverse events occurred in 60.8% of patients with TACE-atezolizumab/bevacizumab and 40.5% with TACE alone.

Mature overall survival data are awaited.

Read more in the ESMO Daily Reporter.”

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