25 Posts Not To Miss From ESMO GI 2025

The ESMO Gastrointestinal Cancers Congress (ESMO GI 2025) took place in Barcelona, Spain, from from July 2 to July 5, uniting global oncology professionals committed to improving outcomes across the spectrum of GI malignancies. Organized by the European Society for Medical Oncology (ESMO), this premier annual congress reaffirmed its position as a key platform for advancing precision oncology, multidisciplinary collaboration, and clinical innovation in GI cancer care.

This year’s meeting delivered a high-impact scientific program addressing the latest advancements in colorectal, gastric, pancreatic, liver, biliary tract, and rare gastrointestinal cancers. Experts presented breakthroughs in molecular profiling, immunotherapy combinations, novel biomarkers, and resistance mechanisms paving the way for more personalized and effective treatment strategies. Special sessions explored the integration of systemic therapies with locoregional modalities, organ preservation approaches, and the evolving role of ctDNA in disease monitoring and treatment decisions.

With hundreds of abstracts, expert panels, and tumor-specific discussions, ESMO GI 2025 focused on delivering clinically meaningful insights with immediate relevance to patient care. The congress also highlighted the importance of real-world data, innovative clinical trial designs, and equitable access to cutting-edge therapies across regions.

A strong emphasis was placed on the next generation of oncology leaders, with dedicated sessions for young oncologists, career development workshops, and networking events designed to support knowledge exchange and mentorship.

Now firmly established as a cornerstone of the global oncology calendar, ESMO GI 2025 once again demonstrated its role in shaping the future of gastrointestinal cancer treatment. As the landscape of cancer care becomes increasingly complex, this congress remains essential for fostering scientific progress and advancing high-quality, patient-centered GI oncology worldwide.

Here is 25 key highlights from ESMO GI 2025. Scroll down to explore the most impactful sessions, hear from thought leaders, and stay ahead of the latest trends in blood science and patient-centered care.

ESMO – Eur. Oncology:

“ESMOGI25: New combinations show promise in HCC. Favourable responses were seen with irpagratinib plus atezolizumab in FGF19+ disease. STRIDE had acceptable safety in poor-prognosis patients in the SIERRA  Clinical Trial. Read the ESMODailyReporter”

Teresa Macarulla:

“Karyn Goodman reviwed the SBRT in locally advanced PDAC in the education session.”

Dr. Cathy Eng:

“Karyn Goodman  discussing the role of radiation for locally advanced pancreatic cancer: Ongoing trials from Dr. Nina Niu Sanford and Dr. Damen.”

OncoDaily GI:

“ESMO GI 2025 Highlights: OrigAMI-1 Trial on Amivantamab Rechallenge in mCRC

Dr. Samuel J. Klempner presented OrigAMI-1 trial results at ESMO GI 2025, showing that amivantamab rechallenge improved outcomes in mCRC patients, especially with longer intervals since prior EGFR inhibitor treatment.”

Lorenza Rimassa:

“Oliver Strobel discusses oligometastatic pancreatic cancer at ESMOGI25. Any role for locoregional therapies combined with systemic therapy?”

Angela Lamarca:

“Mini Oral Session ESMOGI25. Innovation in PDAC. 1.- BXCL701+Pembro 2L: ORR 17%, 2.- LSTA1 + GemNabPaclitaxel 1L: ORR 45%. ”

Arndt Vogel:

” Certepetide or plc added to GEM + nab-paclitaxel in mPDAC

• AGITG ASCEND phs 2
• ORR 33 vs 29%
• mPFS 7.5 vd 4.5 mo
• mOS10.3 vs 9 mo
•  Interesting MOA —> supposed to enhance uptake of anti-cancer drugs.”

Lorenza Rimassa:

“Updated results from the phase 2 ABSK-011-201 study of irpagratinib and atezolizumab in patients with HCC with FGF19 overexpression. A potential targeted therapy for HCC?”

OncoDaily:

“ESMOGI 2025 Highlights: BXCL701 + Pembrolizumab in Second-Line Advanced PDAC

The EXPEL PANC Phase II trial (NCT05558982), presented by Dr. Benjamin Weinberg, MD, FACP from Georgetown University Medical Center at the ESMO Gastrointestinal (GI) Cancers Congress 2025 in Barcelona, investigates the combination of BXCL701 and pembrolizumab in patients with second-line advanced pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC).This study aims to evaluate the efficacy and safety of this combination therapy in a population historically resistant to immunotherapy.”

ESMO – Eur. Oncology:

“ESMOGI25: A combination of givastomig, nivolumab and mFOLFOX shows promising activity and acceptable safety in HER2− CLDN18.2+ GastroEsophagealCancer, regardless of PDL1 or CLDN18.2 status. Further details in the ESMODailyReporter.”

Teresa Macarulla:

“We start the second day of ESMOGI25 with controversy session: molecular testing for all PDAC. Talia Golan review the germline testing, as always ESMO Ambassadors.”

Dr. Cathy Eng:

“To all that showed up for our multi-D rectal cancer session at ESMO. GREAT discussion with Drs. Prager, Garcia-Aguilar and Vendrely. ESMOGI25.”

DrJorgeB_George:

“Amazing trip through translational research in colorectal cancer from Sanger sequencing to Single Cell by F. Di Nicolantonio at ESMO.”

OncoDaily GI:

“ESMO GI 2025 Highlights: SIERRA Study on STRIDE in Unresectable HCC.

Dr. Stephen L. Chan presented the SIERRA study at ESMO GI 2025, showing that STRIDE may be a promising and safe first-line treatment for advanced HCC patients with poor prognostic factors. ”

Lorenza Rimassa:

“Prof Mazzaferro presents the state of the art of surgery and liver transplant for HCC in 2025 at ESMOGI2025.”

Erman Akkus:

“Second lime treatment in advanced HCC . Maria Reig ESMOGI25. BCLC 2025 is in preparation: multidimensional decision making.”

Rachna Shroff, MD, MS, FASCO:

“Excellent summary for intermediate stage HCC by Tanios Bekaii-Saab, MD!

Progress but many:
– Is PFS the right endpoint?
– TACE vs TARE
– Sequence vs concurrent.”

Angela Lamarca:

“Quality of life data from PANOVA3 (TTFields+chemo in loc adv PDAC) presented by Macarulla Teresa at ESMOGI25. Improved pain-free survival, delayed time to global health status deterioration and opioid use.”

Arndt Vogel:
“Pain and QoL outcomes with TTFields therapy in patients with locally advanced PDAC. ANOVA-3 phase III, mPFS & mOS improved, pain & QoL improved, less opioid use, looking forward to see implementation in clinical practice.”

Dr. Cathy Eng:

“Closing the session is Dr Michael Overman re: where are with re: immunotherapy in met crcsm colorectal cancer. Excellent lecture re: future developments!”

Teresa Macarulla:

” Zev Wainberg discussed the abstracts 261MO and 262MO in BTC, and 392MO, 393 MO in GC.”

DrJorgeB_George:

“Interesting mini-Oral presentation from Dr Francesca Negri about the assessment of tumour immune microenvironment as a prognostic marker in Locally Advanced Rectal Cancer using a cohort from STAR-01.”

Dr. Cathy Eng:

“Happening now: Dr. Takayuki Yoshino is presenting his approach to personalized oncology for met CRC.”

ESMO – Eur. Oncology:

“ESMOGI25: Randomised Clinical Trials and real-world studies in mCRC provide further evidence in favour of anti-EGFR rechallenge, particularly with a prolonged intertreatment interval. Read more in the ESMO Daily Reporter.”

Myriam Chalabi:

“Organ preservation is definitely not controversial with this group of KOLs. Fantastic to have trailblazing surgeons like them pushing the  (literally).
Julio Garcia Aguilar, Laura Fernandez. Geerard Beets ESMOGI25 .”

Amalya Sargsyan:

” Happy to share our poster at ESMOGI25 in Barcelona on G/GEJ cancer trials – endpoints and global trends. Interesting to see how Asia, especially China, is now leading in both early and late-phase trials. Many late-stage studies still rely on surrogate endpoints, and pharma-sponsored trials show higher discontinuation rates.

And of course, haven’t lost chance to reconnect with my mentor Yelena Janjigian get some inspiration and meet experts and friends from around the world.

Thank you European School of Oncology for Supporting to be here ! Mariam Mailyan.”

To stay on top of everything happening at ESMO GI 2025, keep following OncoDaily.

Written by Nare Hovhannisyan, MD