Highlights from ASCOGI25 Day 2

The 2025 ASCO Gastrointestinal (GI) Cancers Symposium took place from Thursday, January 23 to Saturday, January 25.

This event featured the latest research, treatments, and strategies in the fight against GI cancers. People had the chance to attend expert-led sessions on emerging therapies, clinical breakthroughs, and multidisciplinary approaches to patient care.

For more details on the program, check out the official Meeting Announcement and download the full schedule.

Our team at OncoDaily has selected a few highlights from ASCO GI 2025 Day 2 that you should not miss:

Nina Niu Sanford:

“Life can be the cruelest.

Thank you Mary Feng for sharing about Felix.

I so admire your strength, grace, and look forward to you chairing GI ASCO in 2026!”

Cathy Eng:

“Eftrat Dotan provided update re: NCI CTEP Clinical Research, ECOG-ACRIN Cancer Research Group, indicate the imp of geriatric score not just ECOG PS in identifying pancreatic cancer patients for chemotherapy.”

Pashtoon Kasi:

“GI25 Micdrop NEST:

NO RECURRENCES! Neoadjuvant immunotherapy keeps delivering! Patients with MSS, NOT just MSI-High in colorectal cancer. Goal is to CURE more patients. Phase2/3 soon.

The UNICORN study of BOT +/-BAL corroborates the findings of our NEST  trial. Also provides: “Contribution of Components”. BOT needs its partner BAL. Not entirely surprising since earlier data on IPI/NIVO also showed that CTLA4 was not sufficient.

Here’s the replica of the flatline from the UNICORN  study, as noted in NEST trial as well. From BOT BAL arm for patients with MSS colorectal cancer Again, reiterating the larger goal and unmet need of CURING more patients.” 

Read further.

Antonio D’Alessio:

“CARES-005 is positive! Another IO-TACE positive trial…but doubts remain.

PFS with TACE: 3.2 months only, OS negative, phase 2.”

Udhayvir Grewal:

“TACE and camrelizumab and apatinib versus TACE alone in unresectable HCC.
– multicenter, open-label, randomized, phase 2 study (CAP-ACE) at GI25.

– Improvement in PFS, OS analysis not mature.
– Limited applicability considering TACE not the preferred locoregional modality at most centers in N.A.”

Despina Siolas:

“Immunotherapy showcased at GI25 ASCO.

•Botensilimab checkpoint blockade showing promise in solid tumors.
•Armored GPC3 CART cell therapy for HCC.
•KRAS-targeted vaccines aiming to prevent cancer recurrence.
The future of Cancer Research is almost here!”

Antonio D’Alessio:

“Do you remember adjuvant cell therapy for HCC?
At ASCO GI25 the NINE year (!) f-up was presented:

• maintained significant RFS benefit.
• reduction in cancer-specific death.
• increase in CD8+ memory T cells.

Adjuvant therapy for HCC: not everything is lost?”

Ryan Huey:

“Ryan Nipp discussing the importance of ePROs and supportive oncology for patients with pancreatic cancer. Looking forward to data from their RCT soon.”

Pashtoon Kasi:

“Another trial unfortunately negative for our patients with pancreas cancer.

As mentioned, innovation is needed.

The PanCAN is a great platform to study novel drugs.

While mechanistically, Pamrevlumab was of value to study, it didn’t improve survival.”

Allison Rosen:

“Two EAO-CRC patient advocates who have had the privilege of serving as ASCO
featured voices! TY for including the voice of those affected by the disease! Our goal is the represent patients,survivors, and caregivers and bring back the latest and great to our communities!”

Krishan Jethwa:

“Following up with presentation, RCT.

Gem-Ox or Gem-Cis +/- CRT for resected gallbladder cancer.

In this relatively small study that incompletely accrued, there was not a significant improvement in RFS or OS with addition of CRT.”

Grainne O’Kane:

“ACCELERATE trial in GBC.

• adjuvant chemo (gemox/ cis/gem) vs chemo +CRT.
• 94 patients enrolled;planned 200.
• no benefit of +rads (despite underpowered).
• med RFS 52 vs 44mths.
• small study ? Would higher risk benefit.”

Flavio G Rocha:

“Role for adjuvant radiotherapy in GBCA after chemo?
Namrata (Neena) Vijayvergia giving a master class GI25.

ACCELERATE trial.

Chemotherapy outperformed prior RCTs.
Chemoradiotherapy results similar to SWOG S0809.

Lack of improved RFS due to not enough chemo?”

Supriya Peshin:

“Wow! Beautifully explained Namrata (Neena) Vijayvergia. What an incredible gist of Precision Promise and Accelerate trial!!

Kudos to impactful discussion and knowledge.”

Shivani Modi:

“Insightful session at ASCOGI25, Efrat Dotan on tailored decision-making for geriatric patients with pancreatobiliary cancer. Key takeaway: Personalizing care with geriatric assessments and modified chemo regimens improves outcomes and preserves quality of life.“

Mark Lewis:

“Lipika Goyal, Stanford Cancer Institute gives an excellent overview of both the history and principles of adjuvant therapy (in the context of HCC).

Asking patients to accept non-zero toxicity for unknown benefit ought to be one of the most scrutinized value propositions in oncology.”

James Good:

“Powerful and timely advocacy for radiation approaches in HCC from Lauren Henke at GI25.”

Nina Niu Sanford:

“Nice HCC debate and discussion by Lauren Henke.

Historically (neo)adjuvant trials in HCC have been designed around resection and ablation.

With high rates of control/ablative doses achievable with rad seg and SBRT, argue these modalities should also be included as definitive options.”

Kristen Ciombor:

“One of the most amazing and under recognized aspects of ASCO is its incredible staff that make these meetings and the organization run so well. Much deserved shout out to Tony Schweizer and his colleagues for making this an incredible meeting!”

Akwi Asombang:

“Started my day as a Session co-chair ASCO GI Cancers 2025 Symposium with Alexander Parikh, San Francisco.

‘Practical Considerations for the Management of Pancreatic and Biliary Tumors’

• Patient performance status.
• Geriatric assessment.
• No treatment is treatment.”

Nicholas Hornstein:

“ACCELERATE (great name, negative trial).

Resected Gallbladder adenocarcinoma.
adjuvant chemotherapy vs chemoRT.

No change in outcomes between chemo (GemCis/GemOx) vs Chemo + RT.

45 vs 48 patients. Important work!
CA19-9 prognostic.”

ASCO:

“What an incredible Day 2 at GI25! Filled with thought-provoking sessions and insightful research, the energy and passion of this community are truly unstoppable. We can’t wait to connect with everyone again for Day 3!”