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ESMO 2026: Top GI Cancer Trials and KOL Voices

ESMO 2026: Top GI Cancer Trials and KOL Voices
KOL Pulse · ESMO 2026 · Madrid · GI cancers

ESMO 2026: Top GI Cancer Trials and KOL Voices

SANO and HERIZON-GEA-01 drew the most physician posts on X among GI trials at ESMO 2026 through the early afternoon of October 25. SANO showed similar 5-year OS with active surveillance after esophageal chemoradiotherapy, with more distant metastases. Zanidatamab plus chemotherapy now has its own OS win over trastuzumab plus chemotherapy; physicians debated whether tislelizumab adds enough. Day 3 added two lower GI readouts: IROCAS, a negative adjuvant intensification trial in colon cancer, and AZUR-1, dostarlimab alone in dMMR/MSI-H rectal cancer, FDA approved on October 19. HARMONi-GI1 and CLARITY-Gastric01 were presented in Presidential Symposium II on the evening of October 25. Below are eleven of the most-discussed GI trials, each with the result, a presented slide where one exists and physician posts, followed by the GI leaderboard and the GI sessions still ahead.

Physician discussion, October 23–25

Physician posts on X, October 23–25.

#TrialPhysician postsPhysicians posting
1SANO1915
2HERIZON-GEA-011913
3COMPANION-002158
4G-HOPE-0011310
5ACTICCA-1136
6RASolute 3021210
7KEYNOTE-975118
8HARMONi-GI1108
9PRABITAS107
10IROCAS97
11AZUR-197

Also discussed: MASTERPLAN (posts), CheckMate 8HW (posts), AMPLIFY-7P (posts), and telisotuzumab adizutecan plus bevacizumab and CLARITY-Gastric01, both covered below.

1. SANO: active surveillance vs esophagectomy after clinical complete response

Phase 3 stepped-wedge, cluster-randomized trial, N=309, after neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy (41.4 Gy). 5-year OS 50% with active surveillance vs 54% with surgery, HR 1.17 (95% CI 0.77–1.77), not significantly different; the confidence interval is wide and equivalence was not formally shown. DFS HR 1.39 (0.94–2.06). 5-year distant metastases 46% vs 29%, P<.01. 85 of 198 patients (43%) under surveillance were spared esophagectomy; the slide labels this figure hypothetical. (ESMO 2026 LBA78 abstract and slides, Sanjiv Gangaram-Panday; median follow-up 76 months) SANO tests a treatment strategy, not a drug.

Elvina Almuradova ESMO 2026 slide photo: SANO overall survival, active surveillance vs surgery, HR 1.17 (95% CI 0.77-1.77), p=0.46, presented by Sanjiv Gangaram-Panday
SANO overall survival, active surveillance vs surgery. Sanjiv Gangaram-Panday, ESMO 2026, LBA78. Photo posted by @Dr_ElvinaA.

Physicians split on whether the trial supports offering surveillance. Points raised: the distant-metastasis rate, that a non-significant OS difference does not establish non-inferiority, and the 41.4 Gy dose.

Offer surveillance or not?
Arndt Vogel @ArndtVogel
liver cancer and precision oncology, Princess Margaret / MHH · Oct 23
SANO trial: Active surveillance vs standard surgery after neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy for oesophageal cancer: Long-term results #ESMO26 #ESMOAmbassadors 👉 DFS HR: 1.39 👉 OS HR:1.17 👉Distant mets: sHR 2.04 🧐OS not different, supports consideration of active surveillance @myESMO @ASCO
View post on X ↗
Krishan Jethwa @KrishanJethwa
GI radiation oncologist, Mayo Clinic · Oct 23
🔥 SANO 5-year results🔥 Esophagus cancer 👥 309 pts with cCR after nCRT 🔍 Surveillance vs surgery ✅ 5y OS: 50% vs 54% (HR 1.17) ⚠️ Distant mets: 46% vs 29% (P<.01) 💥 43% organ preservation Active surveillance remains a feasible strategy albeit we must recognize the DM risk despite no OS difference. Perhaps TNT, like D-FLOT ➡️CRT with subsequent AS for cCR may be an optimal next strategy to test. Improved response assessment strategies also needed #ESMO26
View post on X ↗
Dr Amol Akhade @SuyogCancer
medical oncologist · Oct 23
With increase in distant mets , will you offer wait and watch in Esophageal cancer? I won't. #SANO trial. @myESMO #esmo26 @OncoAlert https://t.co/3zTURZhdao https://t.co/aYOWJzxdyh
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Jeff Ryckman @jryckman3
radiation oncologist · Oct 23
🚨SANO 5y: surveillance vs surgery after cCR OS 50% vs 54% (NS) Distant mets 46% vs 29% (P<.01) Reminder: only 41.4 Gy/23 fx, a pre-op, arguably non-definitive dose, especially with/ ~75% adenocarcinoma. Nonsignificant OS doesn't establish noninferiority. #ESMO26 #RadOnc #OncTwitter
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2. HERIZON-GEA-01: zanidatamab ± tislelizumab in first-line HER2+ gastroesophageal adenocarcinoma

Phase 3, N=914: zanidatamab + chemotherapy, with or without tislelizumab, vs trastuzumab + chemotherapy. At the second interim OS analysis, zanidatamab + chemotherapy improved OS vs trastuzumab + chemotherapy: median 22.9 vs 19.6 months, HR 0.76 (95% CI 0.62–0.93), P=0.0088; 36-month OS 31.5% vs 22.9%. The triplet vs trastuzumab + chemotherapy: median OS 27.0 vs 19.6 months, HR 0.65 (0.52–0.80), a descriptive analysis because significance was already met at the first interim; 36-month OS 39.8%. Triplet vs doublet: HR 0.81 (0.65–1.00), P=0.0502, not statistically significant. (ESMO 2026 LBA79 slides, Kohei Shitara; second interim analysis, data cutoff Jul 15, 2026; median follow-up 35.3 months) The safety profile was consistent with the first interim analysis. (LBA79 safety slide) FDA approved on August 25, 2026: Ziihera + Tevimbra + chemotherapy for HER2 IHC 3+ or IHC 2+/ISH+ disease, and Ziihera + chemotherapy for IHC 3+. (KOL Pulse HERIZON-GEA-01 page)

Aya Mohamed ESMO 2026 slide photo: HERIZON-GEA-01 OS in the ITT population, zanidatamab plus chemotherapy vs trastuzumab plus chemotherapy, median OS 22.9 vs 19.6 months, HR 0.76 (0.62-0.93), P=0.0088, presented by Kohei Shitara
HERIZON-GEA-01 OS, zanidatamab + chemotherapy vs trastuzumab + chemotherapy. Kohei Shitara, ESMO 2026, LBA79. Photo posted by @Dr_Oncologista.

The doublet’s OS result was not debated. The debate was whether to add tislelizumab, given the P=0.0502 comparison and added toxicity.

Doublet or triplet?
Nicholas Hornstein @GIMedOnc
GI medical oncologist, Northwell · Oct 23
HERIZON-GEA-01 second OS interim at #ESMO26, and I'm a triplet believer. In January I wondered if tislelizumab was necessary. With 35 months of follow-up, my answer is yes. 914 patients, 1L HER2+ GEA, randomized 1:1:1 to zani + chemo ± tislelizumab vs trastuzumab + chemo. Median OS
• Zani + chemo + tisle: 27.0 mo
• Zani + chemo: 22.9 mo
• Tras + chemo: 19.6 mo 3-year OS: 39.8% vs 31.5% vs 22.9% The doublet now has its own OS win over trastuzumab (HR 0.76, 95% CI 0.62–0.93, p=0.0088). The triplet vs trastuzumab got better with time (HR 0.72 at IA1, now 0.65). Triplet vs doublet: HR 0.81 (95% CI 0.65–1.00), p=0.0502. Yes, it technically misses. But 4 more months of median OS is clinically meaningful in metastatic gastric cancer. Patients also stayed on the triplet longer (~47 vs ~30 weeks), with no new safety signal. Takeaway: zani + chemo + tisle is my 1L default for HER2+ GEA. Bring on the bispecifics 🔥 @OncoAlert @TheGutOncLab @OncoAlert
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Yakup Ergün @dr_yakupergun
medical oncologist · Oct 23
#ESMO26 | HERIZON-GEA-01 – Updated OS Her2 positive gastric/ge cancer At 35.3 months of follow-up, zanidatamab + CT now shows a significant OS benefit over trastuzumab + CT: 22.9 vs 19.6 months (HR 0.76; p=0.0088). With the addition of tislelizumab, median OS increased to 27 months, but the additional benefit was statistically borderline (HR 0.81; p=0.0502). Considering toxicity, we need to carefully analyze which patients should receive the triplet regimen.
View post on X ↗
Nurullah İlhan,MD
Nurullah İlhan,MD @drnurullahilhan
medical oncologist, Istanbul · Oct 25
HERIZON-GEA-01 raises a treatment-selection question in 1L HER2+ advanced gastroesophageal adenocarcinoma. Zanidatamab + chemo improved OS vs trastuzumab + chemo: 22.9 vs 19.6 months; HR 0.76; P=0.0088. The tislelizumab triplet also sustained its OS benefit vs trastuzumab + chemo. But the direct comparison matters: Adding tislelizumab to zanidatamab + chemo gave OS of 27.0 vs 22.9 months; HR 0.81; P=0.0502 — not statistically significant. This does not establish equivalence between doublet and triplet. Who gains enough from adding immunotherapy to justify the extra treatment—and can biomarkers help us identify them? @KoheiShitara @YJanjigianMD @myESMO @OncoAlert #HERIZONGEA01 #ESMO26 #GICSM
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3. COMPANION-002: tovecimig + paclitaxel in previously treated biliary tract cancer

Phase 2/3: tovecimig, a DLL4×VEGF-A bispecific antibody, plus paclitaxel vs paclitaxel alone after prior therapy for advanced biliary tract cancer, presented by Nilofer Azad. The trial met its primary endpoint of response rate and improved PFS. OS did not differ, and the presented slide describes the OS analysis as confounded by crossover from the paclitaxel arm. Tovecimig is investigational.

Grainne O'Kane ESMO 2026 slide photo: COMPANION-002 OS analysis confounded by crossover, tovecimig plus paclitaxel vs paclitaxel, presented by Nilofer Azad
COMPANION-002 OS analysis and crossover. Nilofer Azad, ESMO 2026. Photo posted by @graokane.

An investigator on the trial highlighted response and PFS. Others pointed to the toxicity, the crossover, and first-line testing.

Response and PFS vs OS and toxicity
ilyas sahin, MD
ilyas sahin, MD @ilyassahinMD
GI medical oncologist, Mass General; COMPANION-002 investigator · Oct 24
Excited to see our COMPANION-002 trial published in JCO and presented at #ESMO26! Treatment options remain limited for advanced biliary tract cancer after first-line therapy, especially without targetable mutations. Tovecimig + paclitaxel vs paclitaxel alone: • Tumor response (ORR): 18% vs 5.3% • Time without progression (median PFS): 4.7 vs 2.6 months (HR 0.44) Proud to have contributed to this multicenter trial!
View post on X ↗
Arndt Vogel @ArndtVogel
liver cancer and precision oncology, Princess Margaret / MHH · Oct 24
A randomized trial of paclitaxel ± tovecimig in previously treated patients with advanced biliary tract cancer #ESMO26 #ESMOAmbassadors 👉 ORR: 18 vs 5.3% 👉 mPFS: 4.7 vs 2.6 mo 👉 mOS: 8.9 vs 9.4 mo 🧐Active drug, but no OS benefit in 2nd line, could be explored in 1L @myESMO @ASCO
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Mario Balsa @MarioBalsaMD
medical oncologist, Hospital Clínic Barcelona · Oct 24
Signal in previously treated biliary tract cancer at #ESMO26: Tovecimig + paclitaxel improves ORR (17% vs 5%) and PFS (HR 0.44)…but with substantial toxicity, and OS remains uninterpretable given 54% crossover 🤷🏻‍♂️ @OncoAlert 4Sight is already dissecting the abstracts worth watching! 👀 @OncoReporte @_SEOM @myESMO
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Grainne O'Kane @graokane
medical oncologist, pancreatic and hepatobiliary cancers · Oct 24
Paclitaxel +\-tovecimig: COMPANION-002 ph2/3 ➡️prev treated #BTC wo actionable alterations ➡️ORR 17.1 v5.3%; DCR 62 v 37% ➡️mPFS 4.7 v 2.6mths - benefits seen at PFS2 noting crossover ➡️OS not sig but nb crossover @myESMO #ESMO26 @OncoAlert https://t.co/eeR74Ehqed
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4. G-HOPE-001: arcotatug tavatecan in CLDN18.2-positive gastric/GEJ cancer, third line and later

Phase 3, China and Japan: arcotatug tavatecan (IBI343), a CLDN18.2-directed antibody-drug conjugate, vs treatment of physician’s choice after at least two prior lines, presented by Kohei Shitara. PFS and OS both improved; the OS result was reported at the second interim analysis. Physicians quoted figures from two analyses, the abstract’s first interim and the updated second interim in the presentation, so the numbers differ between posts. Arcotatug tavatecan is not FDA approved.

Arndt Vogel ESMO 2026 slide photo: G-HOPE-001 OS at the second interim analysis, primary endpoint, arcotatug tavatecan vs treatment of physician's choice, presented by Kohei Shitara
G-HOPE-001 OS at the second interim analysis. Kohei Shitara, ESMO 2026, LBA77. Photo posted by @ArndtVogel.

Physicians called it a new option after two lines. Open questions: OS maturity, patients previously treated with zolbetuximab, and the lack of a Western cohort.

A new option, with open questions
Jia (Jenny) Liu MD PhD @JiaJennyLiu
medical oncologist, Kinghorn Cancer Centre; arcotatug tavatecan Phase 1 investigator · Oct 23
From presenting Phase 1 data at #ESMOGI24 → @NatureMedicine publication in 2025 → seeing positive Phase 3 results from G-HOPE-001 in CLDN18.2 positive 3L+ G/GEJA presented by @KoheiShitara at #ESMO26! Wonderful to have been part of the development journey of arcotatug tavatecan (IBI343), a CLDN18.2-targeting ADC! 📊 OS HR 0.57 (10.2 vs 6.9 mo) 📊 PFS HR 0.45 (7.1 vs 3.1 mo) 💊 Grade ≥3 treatment-related AEs: 47.4% vs 55.9%; dose reductions: 17.8% vs 35.1% compared with chemotherapy. Congratulations to all investigators and the Innovent & Takeda teams! Looking forward to exploring rational combinations to further improve patient outcomes! #ADC #GastricCancer @myESMO @OncoAlert @oncodaily
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Nicholas Hornstein @GIMedOnc
GI medical oncologist, Northwell · Oct 23
#ESMO26 3L gastric cancer means picking between drugs that minimally work (irinotecan, paclitaxel or TAS-102). Modest benefit, real tox. G-HOPE-001 adds a fourth option 👀🧬 Arcotatug tavatecan (CLDN18.2 ADC, TOPO-I payload) vs TPC
n=408, CLDN18.2 ≥75% 2+, 2–4 prior lines, China and Japan 📈 PFS 5.5 vs 2.9 mo, HR 0.47 (95% CI 0.34–0.65) 
🩸 OS 9.9 vs 7.4 mo, HR 0.63 (95% CI 0.45–0.89), interim 
🎯 ORR 23.6% vs 5.3% 
✅ Grade ≥3 TEAEs 45.8% vs 57.9% What changes in practice: CLDN18.2 IHC stops being a one-time 1L question. If this holds, the same result matters again two lines later 🔁 OS at IA2 will tell us how much and the paper will tell us about prior CLDN exposure… Needs a western cohort as well… @OncoAlert @TheGutOncLab @Onco_Nexus
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MV Chandrakanth @ChandrakanthMv
medical oncologist, Narayana Health Kolkata · Oct 23
G-HOPE-001 | ESMO 2026 | LBA77 SAME TARGET. NEW WEAPON. 🎯 Can a CLDN18.2-targeted ADC outperform chemotherapy in heavily pretreated gastric/GEJ cancer? Arcotatug tavatecan (IBI343) vs chemotherapy | Phase III | N=408 🔹 PFS: 5.5 vs 2.9 months (HR 0.47) 🔹 ORR: 23.6% vs 5.3% 🔹 OS: 9.9 vs 7.4 months (HR 0.63; immature) 🔹 Grade ≥3 TEAEs: 45.8% vs 57.9% 🔹 ILD: No cases observed. TAKE-HOME A 53% reduction in progression/death hazard with a favourable safety signal. But mature OS and efficacy after prior zolbetuximab remain key unanswered questions. Ref: Shitara K et al. G-HOPE-001. ESMO 2026; LBA77. #MVOnco #ESMO2026 #GastricCancer #CLDN182 #ADC
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5. ACTICCA-1: adjuvant gemcitabine-cisplatin vs capecitabine in resected biliary tract cancer

Phase 3, presented by Henning Wege. The primary DFS endpoint was not met. OS was numerically longer with gemcitabine-cisplatin but not statistically significant, and toxicity was higher.

Angela Lamarca ESMO 2026 slide photo: ACTICCA-1 primary endpoint, disease-free survival, gemcitabine-cisplatin vs capecitabine, presented by Henning Wege
ACTICCA-1 primary endpoint (DFS). Henning Wege, ESMO 2026, LBA21. Photo posted by @DrAngelaLamarca.

Physicians agreed it does not change the standard. They differed on whether gemcitabine-cisplatin is an option for selected patients.

Not a new standard; an option for some?
Arndt Vogel @ArndtVogel
liver cancer and precision oncology, Princess Margaret / MHH · Oct 24
🧐 Trend for OS benefit, not an option for all, but may be considered as option for selected pts
Read the full post on X ↗
Grainne O'Kane @graokane
medical oncologist, pancreatic and hepatobiliary cancers · Oct 24
Much anticipated ACTICCA-1 ➡️adj cis/gem v cape #BTC ➡️mod ITT n=591 ➡️no diff in DFS at 24mth 52% v 44% RMST at 3 yrs ⬆️DFS by 2.6mth ➡️28% iCCA -no maj subgroup diff ➡️mOS 58.1 v 48.2 p=0.1 ❎No change to std ?an option, NB need as backbone 1st line! @myESMO @OncoAlert #ESMO26 https://t.co/zvbwqujcD1
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Lucy Flanders @lucykflanders
GI medical oncologist, Royal Free Hospital · Oct 24
⚠️ GemCis ⬆️ toxicity,predom haematological Take🏠 ACTICCA-1 addresses unmet need for better adj therapy in BTC, but does not establish GemCis as superior to cape 🔦Search for more effective adj strategies continues, including peri-op IO approaches #ESMO26 #BiliaryTractCancer
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6. RASolute 302: daraxonrasib by RAS genotype in previously treated pancreatic cancer

Phase 3, N=500. Primary results: median OS 13.2 vs 6.7 months with daraxonrasib vs chemotherapy, HR 0.40 (95% CI 0.30–0.53), overall population. (ASCO 2026 LBA5 / NEJM; data cutoff Feb 10, 2026) At ESMO 2026, Zev A. Wainberg presented subgroup analyses from the same data cutoff. OS HR by RAS genotype: G12D 0.49 (0.33–0.74), G12V 0.32 (0.19–0.54), G12R 0.61 (0.29–1.30), Q61 0.37 (0.09–1.44), no RAS mutation identified 0.43 (0.09–1.98). The G12R, Q61 and no-mutation groups were small (30 vs 31, 11 vs 11 and 9 vs 7 patients) and their confidence intervals cross 1. ORR by BICR in G12R was 7% vs 14%. (ESMO 2026 LBA82 slides; subgroup HRs from an unstratified Cox model; median follow-up 8.5 months) FDA approved on August 26, 2026 as Rasonque for metastatic pancreatic adenocarcinoma after at least one prior systemic therapy, or in patients who are not candidates for multiagent therapy. The label does not restrict use by RAS status. (KOL Pulse RASolute 302 page)

Lorenza Rimassa ESMO 2026 slide photo: RASolute 302 OS by RAS genotype subgroups, daraxonrasib vs chemotherapy, G12D HR 0.49, G12V HR 0.32, G12R HR 0.61 (0.29-1.30), presented by Zev A. Wainberg
RASolute 302 OS by RAS genotype. Zev A. Wainberg, ESMO 2026, LBA82. Photo posted by @LorenzaRimassa.

Physicians agreed on the overall benefit. The question was RAS G12R.

Consistent benefit, and the G12R question
Arndt Vogel @ArndtVogel
liver cancer and precision oncology, Princess Margaret / MHH · Oct 23
RASolute 302 ph3 study: Daraxonrasib, a RAS(ON) multi-selective inhibitor vs chemotherapy in previously treated mPDAC #ESMO26 #ESMOAmbassadors 👉 mOS: 13.2 vs 6.7 mo 👉ORR improved in all RAS mutations 👉PFS & OS: small subgroups, favourable for all 🧐great data, consistent benefits for all pts @myESMO @ASCO
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Grainne O'Kane @graokane
medical oncologist, pancreatic and hepatobiliary cancers · Oct 23
#LBA82 subgroup analysis RASolute 302 #PDAC ➡️HR for OS across subtypes 0.32-0.46 ➡️G12R 0.61 (0.29-1.30) ➡️RAS WT numbers small (3%) but still OS benefit! 🤔perhaps ORR and mPFS not as pronounced in these populations! ✅std second line treatment @myESMO #ESMO26 @OncoAlert https://t.co/J43sTtOscN
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DrJorgeB_George @DrJorgeBarriuso
medical oncologist, lower GI cancers · Oct 23
Nice update of the RASolute 302 at #ESMO26 Looking at the outcomes. Although small numbers, are we facing a roadblock with the KRAS G12R variant? Represents between 12-15% Could protein degraders be a viable alternative? #ESMOAmbassadors @myESMO @GrupoTTD https://t.co/bKh7kUhKzk
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7. KEYNOTE-975: pembrolizumab with definitive chemoradiotherapy in esophageal cancer

Phase 3: pembrolizumab or placebo with definitive chemoradiotherapy in unresectable esophageal or GEJ cancer, presented by Manish Shah. EFS was not improved in PD-L1 CPS ≥10 tumors, and OS was not formally tested. Pembrolizumab is not approved with definitive chemoradiotherapy for esophageal cancer.

Daisuke Kotani ESMO 2026 slide photo: KEYNOTE-975 EFS in participants with PD-L1 CPS 10 or higher tumors, pembrolizumab plus dCRT vs placebo plus dCRT, presented by Manish Shah
KEYNOTE-975 EFS, PD-L1 CPS ≥10. Manish Shah, ESMO 2026. Photo posted by @DaisukeKotani.

Physicians agreed the trial was negative. Discussion turned to radiation dose, timing of immunotherapy relative to radiation, and toxicity.

Negative, and why
Jeff Ryckman @jryckman3
radiation oncologist · Oct 23
KEYNOTE-975: adding pembro to definitive CRT didn't improve EFS in CPS>=10 esophageal/GEJ cancer. HR 0.97 (95% CI 0.77-1.23). Hierarchy stopped there; OS wasn't formally tested. Another reason not to assume IO helps every CRT backbone. #ESMO26 #radonc https://t.co/JCWWmcCZHS https://t.co/SCdkZqxsjS
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Mustafa Özdoğan, MD @ozdogan_md
medical oncologist · Oct 23
WHAT IF THE CLOCK MATTERS? ⏰ RT–immunotherapy trials can produce strikingly different results. KEYNOTE-975 was negative but when is IO actually given relative to RT? Future RT–IO trials should not treat chronotherapy as an afterthought. Presented by @MDmanishshah #ESMO26 https://t.co/BSCCkCYxos
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Dra. María Natalia Gandur Quiroga @nataliagandur
medical oncologist, Instituto Roffo · Oct 23
🚨 Another reminder that adding immunotherapy to a curative-intent backbone does not automatically improve outcomes. @OncoAlert At #ESMO26, phase III KEYNOTE-975 tested pembrolizumab + definitive chemoradiotherapy versus dCRT alone in untreated, unresectable esophageal/GEJ cancer. 📊 n=703 In PD-L1 CPS ≥10: ➡️ Median EFS: 15.2 vs 14.7 months HR 0.97 (0.77–1.23) ➡️ Median OS: 32.2 vs 35.0 months HR 1.00 (0.77–1.30) ⚠️ Grade 5 AEs: 13% vs 10% ⚠️ Treatment discontinuation due to AEs: 34% vs 27% The primary efficacy signal was negative. 🎯 Why this matters: biologic plausibility and activity in metastatic disease are not enough to assume benefit in the definitive setting. For me, KEYNOTE-975 reinforces a critical principle: treatment intensification must earn its place with meaningful outcome improvement — especially when toxicity and treatment burden increase. Important data from @MDmanishshah @BennounaJaafar @cbcbc1971 and the KEYNOTE-975 investigators. Pinging @CathyEngMD @BenWestphalen @graokane @NiuSanford @GillSharlene @pashtoonkasi @DrVilmaPBarcia @GIMedOnc @DaisukeKotani @KoheiShitara #OncoAlert #ESMO26 #GICancer #EsophagealCancer #GEJCancer #Immunotherapy #Chemoradiotherapy
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8. HARMONi-GI1: ivonescimab + gemcitabine-cisplatin vs durvalumab + gemcitabine-cisplatin in first-line biliary tract cancer

Phase 3 (LBA8), presented by Jian Zhou on October 25 in Presidential Symposium II, with James J. Harding as invited discussant. The comparator, durvalumab plus gemcitabine-cisplatin, is the FDA-approved first-line standard from TOPAZ-1. Physicians reported a statistically significant OS improvement, with gains in PFS and response rate. Ivonescimab, a PD-1×VEGF bispecific antibody, is investigational in the US; its first FDA application, in EGFR-mutant lung cancer, is under review. (KOL Pulse HARMONi-A page)

Yakup Ergün ESMO 2026 slide photo: HARMONi-GI1 subsequent anti-tumor therapy by arm, ivonescimab plus chemotherapy vs durvalumab plus chemotherapy, including traditional Chinese medicine, presented by Jian Zhou
HARMONi-GI1 subsequent anti-tumor therapy by arm. Jian Zhou, ESMO 2026, LBA8. Photo posted by @dr_yakupergun.

Physicians called the comparator appropriate and the OS result meaningful. Open questions: VEGF-related toxicity, a China-only population and short follow-up.

From the abstract: a new first-line contender
Nicholas Hornstein @GIMedOnc
GI medical oncologist, Northwell · Oct 25
HARMONi-GI1, presidential session at #ESMO26. @UGrewalMD guessed .7 HR
I guessed .8 HR
We were equally right (.75 HR). Phase 3, 1L advanced biliary tract cancer: ivonescimab (PD-1 x VEGF) + GemCis vs durvalumab + GemCis. 682 patients, median follow-up 14.3 mo. OS 14.9 vs 12.1 mo, HR 0.75 (95% CI 0.61-0.92), p=0.0031 
PFS 8.4 vs 5.8 mo, HR 0.61 (95% CI 0.51-0.72) 
ORR 53.8% vs 32.5% This was an appropriate comparator for 2026 and compelling data (although really did need every one of those patients to power). Probable new first line once the full data comes out. The bispecifics era is in full force. @OncoAlert @TheGutOncLab @UGrewalMD @Onco_Nexus
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MV Chandrakanth @ChandrakanthMv
medical oncologist, Narayana Health Kolkata · Oct 25
HARMONi-GI1 | ESMO 2026 | LBA8 TWO TARGETS BEAT ONE! 🎯 Ivonescimab (PD-1 × VEGF) challenges durvalumab (PD-L1) in 1L advanced biliary tract cancer. Phase III | n=682 | Both + GemCis 📊 OS: 14.9 vs 12.1 mo | HR 0.75 (p=0.0031) PFS: 8.4 vs 5.8 mo | HR 0.61 ORR: 53.8% vs 32.5% ✅ Significant OS benefit against an established immunotherapy standard. ⚠️ Safety appears manageable, but VEGF-related toxicity deserves scrutiny. China-only population and 14.3-month median follow-up warrant caution. The verdict: A compelling new first-line contender. Global practice change will require further validation and regulatory approval. Ref: Zhou J et al. HARMONi-GI1. ESMO 2026; LBA8. @myESMO @OncoAlert #ESMO26 #BTC #Ivonescimab #MVOnco
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Yüksel Ürün @DrYukselUrun
genitourinary medical oncologist, Ankara University · Oct 25
HARMONi-GI1: A meaningful OS gain. But benefit-risk matters. Will the full safety data confirm acceptable VEGF-related toxicity in biliary cancer? @myESMO @OncoAlert @OpenMedicineHQ #ESMO26 https://t.co/xnW9ApaiyQ
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After the presentation, physicians called the survival gain meaningful, noted the added toxicity and asked whether the result applies outside China.

After the presentation
Lorenza Rimassa @LorenzaRimassa
GI medical oncologist; head of HPB oncology unit · Oct 25
HARMONi-GI1 phase 3 trial of ivonescimab + chemo in 1L advanced #BTC -OS 14.9 vs 12.1 mos HR 0.75 p 0.0031 -PFS 8.4 vs 5.8 mos HR 0.61 p<0.0001 -ORR 53.8 vs 32.5% p<0.0001 A new standard of care in China. Do we need a trial in Western countries? #ESMO26 #ESMOAmbassadors @myESMO https://t.co/b2U1WNUHf6
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Yüksel Ürün @DrYukselUrun
genitourinary medical oncologist, Ankara University · Oct 25
HARMONi-GI1: OS 14.9 vs 12.1 months. Grade 3–4 AEs: 82% vs 72%. A meaningful survival gain, with added toxicity. @myESMO @OncoAlert @OpenMedicineHQ #ESMO26 https://t.co/17ZBsufXOl
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Yakup Ergün asked about subsequent therapy, meaning treatment given after the trial treatment, as reported on the presented subsequent anti-tumor therapy slide (Jian Zhou, LBA8).

A question on subsequent therapy
Yakup Ergün @dr_yakupergun
medical oncologist · Oct 25
In the control arm, 7% of patients received “Traditional Chinese Medicine” as subsequent antitumor therapy, compared with only 0.6% in the ivonescimab arm. [...] Could this imbalance have influenced OS, given the substantially higher use in the control arm?
Read the full post on X ↗

9. PRABITAS: biweekly vs conventional trifluridine-tipiracil + bevacizumab in refractory colorectal cancer

Pragmatic, non-inferiority Phase 3 trial from Japan, presented by Hiroya Taniguchi and published in The Lancet. The biweekly (14-day) schedule was compared with the conventional 28-day schedule. OS met non-inferiority, with less grade ≥3 neutropenia on the biweekly schedule. Trifluridine-tipiracil plus bevacizumab is FDA approved for previously treated metastatic colorectal cancer; PRABITAS tested the dosing schedule, not a new drug.

Cathy Eng ESMO 2026 slide photo: PRABITAS overall survival, ITT population, biweekly vs conventional trifluridine-tipiracil plus bevacizumab, presented by Hiroya Taniguchi
PRABITAS overall survival. Hiroya Taniguchi, ESMO 2026, LBA31. Photo posted by @CathyEngMD.

Physicians agreed on the schedule. The debate was why it took a randomized trial, after earlier real-world and Phase 2 data.

A new standard schedule, or overdue?
Nobuhiro Shibata MD, PhD @shibanob
medical oncologist, Kansai Medical University; PRABITAS co-author · Oct 24
#ESMO26 LBA31 PRABITAS Phase 3 Trial A pragmatic phase 3 non-inferiority trial comparing biweekly vs conventional FTD/TPI + bevacizumab in refractory mCRC. Efficacy:
• OS: 11.3 vs 10.3 mo (HR 0.93, 95% CI 0.80–1.08)
• PFS: 3.9 vs 3.9 mo (HR 0.93, 95% CI 0.81–1.06) Safety:
• Grade ≥3 neutropenia: 13% vs 39%
• Febrile neutropenia: 1% vs 5%
 Biweekly FTD/TPI + bevacizumab demonstrated non-inferior OS with reduced toxicity compared with the conventional schedule. Our institution, Kansai Medical University Hospital, participated in this study. I am pleased to have contributed as a co-author. Simultaneously published in The Lancet! https://t.co/O0yd2m1dqc #PRABITAS #mCRC #ColorectalCancer
@OncoAlert
View post on X ↗
Sharlene Gill, MD, MPH, MBA, FASCO
Sharlene Gill, MD, MPH, MBA, FASCO @GillSharlene
GI medical oncologist, University of British Columbia · Oct 24
Shout out to the PRABITAS study team 🇯🇵 for providing Level 1 evidence to confirm earlier RWE (with a pragmatic design and no industry funding!) ➡️ biweekly TAS102 should be the new standard for SUNLIGHT ➡️Simultaneous publication in @TheLancet https://t.co/o6Vor5Ms9a ➡️Great discussion by @KaiKeenShiu #ESMO26 @myESMO
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Nicholas Hornstein @GIMedOnc
GI medical oncologist, Northwell · Oct 25
PRABITAS: PIII biweekly vs conventional TAS-102 + bev in refractory mCRC 🇯🇵, presented at #ESMO26. Yay for confirmation. But everyone should have been doing this since the OG publications (and certainly after @CathyEngMD published). The SUNLIGHT schedule (TAS-102 days 1–5 and 8–12, bev days 1 and 15, every 28 days) works, but the neutropenia is savage at almost 50% G3-4 on SUNLIGHT. PRABITAS has the same dose but spreads it out a littttttle more: TAS-102 days 1–5 + 15-19 and bev every 14 days. 970 patients, dosing at physician discretion. The primary endpoint was OS with an NI margin of 1.25. OS 11.3 vs 10.3 mo, HR 0.93 (95% CI 0.80–1.08). Non-inferior, and the curves are the same. Massive tox reduction, consistent with prior data. This shouldn't surprise anyone. Cathy Eng's group published this schedule in 2025: 16% grade ≥3 neutropenia, no febrile neutropenia, no G-CSF. The Japanese phase 2 data go back to 2020. Do we really always need randomized data to change practice? Do patients deserve to wait for 5+ years? Asking for a friend. @OncoAlert @TheGutOncLab @Onco_Nexus
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Dr. Cathy Eng @CathyEngMD
GI medical oncologist, Vanderbilt-Ingram · Oct 24
PRABITAS phase III trial pragmatic trial enrolled 972 pts in 17M evaluating the schedule of TAS-102 + bev (2 weeks on/2 weeks off) vs. (1 week on/1 week off) which validates non-inferiority and less dose reductions validating our RWD approach in the US. #colorectal #cancer #ESMO2026 @OncoAlert
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10. IROCAS: adjuvant mFOLFIRINOX vs mFOLFOX6 in high-risk stage III colon cancer

Phase 3 (LBA29) in resected T4 and/or N2 colon cancer, presented today by Jaafar Bennouna with Jeffrey Meyerhardt as invited discussant, and published concurrently in Annals of Oncology. Adding irinotecan to adjuvant oxaliplatin-based chemotherapy did not improve 3-year DFS, the primary endpoint, and OS did not differ significantly. Diarrhea was more frequent with mFOLFIRINOX. All drugs in both regimens are approved; IROCAS tested whether intensifying the adjuvant regimen helps.

Yakup Ergün ESMO 2026 slide photo: IROCAS primary endpoint, 3-year DFS in the ITT population, mFOLFIRINOX did not improve DFS compared with mFOLFOX6, presented by Jaafar Bennouna
IROCAS primary endpoint, 3-year DFS. Jaafar Bennouna, ESMO 2026, LBA29. Photo posted by @dr_yakupergun.

Physicians agreed the trial answers the adjuvant irinotecan question. Discussion moved to what to try next in high-risk and ctDNA-positive stage III disease.

A settled question, and what next
Thor Halfdanarson @OncoThor
medical oncologist, Mayo Clinic · Oct 25
Well, can we now put the adjuvant irinotecan question to bed…? A very important but negative trial. https://t.co/MmeyzukG0J
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Thor Halfdanarson @OncoThor
medical oncologist, Mayo Clinic · Oct 25
Outstanding summary/discussion by Dr. Meyerhardt as expected. Check it out if you can!
View post on X ↗
Sharlene Gill, MD, MPH, MBA, FASCO @GillSharlene
GI medical oncologist, University of British Columbia · Oct 25
#ESMO26 @myESMO IROCAS / CCTGCO.27 Unicancer 🇫🇷 Italy 🇮🇹 @CDNCancerTrials 🇨🇦 @BennounaJaafar Phase 3 RCT mFOLFIRINOX v FOLFOX in high risk stage 3 CC, n=795 53% T4, 72%N2 ⛔️3y DFS improvement - 65 v 66% ⛔️3y OS improvement -91% v 87% 📌 c/w prior signal in DYNAMIC3 ctDNA+ ➡️ FOLFOX remains SOC - no change since 2004 findings from MOSAIC! We need to think differently about hi risk stage 3 CC… IROCAS now published in @Annals_Oncology 🔗 https://t.co/syndVqrSI0 @oncoalert
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DrJorgeB_George @DrJorgeBarriuso
medical oncologist, lower GI cancers · Oct 25
IROCAS trial presented #ESMO26 Have we hit a wall in high risk pathological or ctDNA+ st III CRC (data from DYNAMIC-III? 👉intensifying with irinotecan doesn't work We need to better understand the cancer biology behind these results? #ESMOAmbassadors @myESMO @GrupoTTD @_SEOM https://t.co/yRPoOzAdpF
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11. AZUR-1: dostarlimab alone in dMMR/MSI-H locally advanced rectal cancer

Global, single-arm Phase 2, N=154: dostarlimab for 9 cycles (6 months) in untreated stage II/III dMMR/MSI-H rectal cancer, presented today by Andrea Cercek (LBA87) with David Tougeron as invited discussant, and published concurrently in Annals of Oncology. The primary endpoint, cCR12 (clinical complete response sustained for 12 months) by independent central review, was 47% (54 of 116 evaluable patients). By investigator assessment, cCR12 was 68% (95% CI 60–76) of 144 evaluable patients. 110 of 154 patients (71%) were treated with dostarlimab alone, had no further treatment and had no disease progression at data cutoff; median follow-up was 26.3 months. (FDA approval notice, Oct 19, 2026, via KOL Pulse AZUR-1 page; data cutoff as reported by FDA) The central-review and investigator figures use different evaluable populations; the presented slide shows that investigators recorded complete responses earlier than central review. FDA granted accelerated approval on October 19, 2026: Jemperli (dostarlimab) for adults with stage II/III dMMR/MSI-H locally advanced rectal cancer, as determined by an FDA-authorized test. (KOL Pulse AZUR-1 page)

Jose Tapia ESMO 2026 slide photo: AZUR-1, investigator-assessed cCR is achieved earlier than by central review, cCR12 by investigator 98/144 (68%) and by independent central review 54/116 (47%), presented by Andrea Cercek
AZUR-1 cCR12 by investigator vs central review. Andrea Cercek, ESMO 2026, LBA87. Photo posted by @TapiaJC1.

Physicians called dostarlimab alone a new standard for these patients. The main caveat raised was the gap between investigator and central-review results.

A new standard, and the central-review gap
Nicholas Hornstein @GIMedOnc
GI medical oncologist, Northwell · Oct 25
AZUR-1 delivers. #ESMO26 Phase 2, single arm. Dostarlimab x 9 cycles (6 months) in untreated stage II/III dMMR/MSI-H rectal cancer, 154 patients. Cercek's 49-patient NEJM cohort gone global. No control arm, because randomizing these patients to TNT/TME isn't equitable. cCR12 (complete response held 12+ months, no further treatment):
68% by investigator. 

26% needed additional treatment
10% went to surgery 68% is likely lower than reality since many patients probably just needed more time to radiographically respond. Using PET/Biopsy/ctDNA, especially ctDNA, is incredibly helpful in my practice to identify patients who can avoid TME even if a fibrotic tumor remains as they often do. FDA already gave accelerated approval (way to steal the ESMO thunder) last week which leads me to my next point. Obvious new standard of care. You should go to oncology jail if you don't treat MSI-H with IO. @OncoAlert @TheGutOncLab @Onco_Nexus
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Jeff Ryckman @jryckman3
radiation oncologist · Oct 25
AZUR-1 (LBA87): Single-arm dostarlimab 500 mg q3w x9 in dMMR/MSI-H LARC. cCR12 by central review, the registry primary: 47% (54/116). Investigator-assessed: 68% among 144 pts. ICR confirmed cCR later, with different evaluable populations. The dostarlimab-alone surveillance path avoids RT, chemo and surgery. #ESMO26 #OncTwitter https://t.co/rOJbf5J8i8
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Jose Tapia @TapiaJC1
GI medical oncologist, Barts Health · Oct 25
.#AZUR-1 Dorstalimab (~6mo) #RectalCancer . -12mo-cCR 68% -12mo-cCR/pCR 76% -ICR vs INV ❓ -surgery 10%, Subseq Tx 26% Important: T4 26% & Low-Rectum 40%. Great results. #ESMO26 @OncoAlert https://t.co/u6U8Q1fDaz
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Also new: CLARITY-Gastric01 and telisotuzumab adizutecan

CLARITY-Gastric01: sonesitatug vedotin in CLDN18.2-positive gastroesophageal cancer, second line and later

Phase 3 (LBA7): sonesitatug vedotin, a CLDN18.2-directed antibody-drug conjugate, vs investigator’s choice, presented by Rui-Hua Xu on October 25 in Presidential Symposium II, with Salah-Eddin Al-Batran as invited discussant. Physicians reported an OS improvement, while PFS did not meet its significance threshold. Sonesitatug vedotin is investigational.

Yakup Ergün ESMO 2026 slide photo: CLARITY-Gastric01 dual-primary endpoint, overall survival in the third-line-or-later population, sonesitatug vedotin vs investigator's choice of therapy, presented by Rui-Hua Xu
CLARITY-Gastric01 overall survival in the third-line-or-later population, a dual primary endpoint. Rui-Hua Xu, ESMO 2026, LBA7. Photo posted by @dr_yakupergun.
Early reactions to the abstract
Dr Rishabh Jain @DrRishabhOnco
medical oncologist, AIIMS Delhi · Oct 25
🚨 ESMO26: A major breakthrough in CLDN18.2+ gastric cancer! CLARITY-Gastric 01 (Phase III) Sonesitatug vedotin vs physician’s choice: 🔹 3L+ OS: 10.0 vs 5.0 months (HR 0.47) 🔹 2L+ OS: 10.6 vs 6.4 months (HR 0.58) 🔹 Grade ≥3 TRAEs: 36.4% vs 44.8% ⚠️ PFS did not meet the prespecified significance threshold. Verdict: A promising new ADC with substantial survival benefit, even in heavily pretreated patients. #ESMO26 @myESMO @ESMO_open @ASCO @OncoAlert
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Dr Amol Akhade @SuyogCancer
medical oncologist · Oct 25
ESMO 2026 Presidential2 | CLARITY-Gastric 01: Phase III: Sonesitatug vedotin vs investigator's choice in previously treated CLDN18.2+ advanced gastroesophageal cancer (n=532). 📊 Key results: ✅ 3L+ median OS: 10.0 vs 5.0 months (HR 0.47; p<0.001) ✅ 2L+ median OS: 10.6 vs 6.4 months (HR 0.58; p<0.001) ⚠️ Median PFS: 4.2 vs 3.8 months (HR 0.77; p=0.05) — did not meet statistical significance threshold. ✅ Grade ≥3 TRAEs: 36.4% vs 44.8% 🔥 53% reduction in risk of death in 3L+! Notably, OS benefit was observed even with lower CLDN18.2 expression (≥25% to <75%). A striking OS benefit despite a modest, statistically nonsignificant PFS improvement. Could this ADC redefine later-line treatment of gastric cancer? @myESMO @OncoAlert #ESMO26 #GastricCancer #ADC
View post on X ↗

After the presentation, physicians welcomed the OS result in later lines. Open questions were the missed PFS endpoint in the overall population, the role in second line and use after zolbetuximab.

After the presentation
Yakup Ergün @dr_yakupergun
medical oncologist · Oct 25
#ESMO26 | CLARITY-Gastric01 Doubling OS from 5 to 10 months with the CLDN18.2-targeted ADC sonesitatug vedotin in ≥3L is impressive (HR 0.47). Benefit even in patients with lower CLDN18.2 expression is encouraging. However, the primary PFS endpoint was not met in the ITT population. Its role in 2L and efficacy after zolbetuximab remain unclear. one question: Given that CLDN18.2 expression can change after treatment, should a fresh biopsy have been mandatory at study enrollment? Or does lowering the positivity cutoff to ≥25% reduce the clinical relevance of this discordance, making archival tissue sufficient?
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Arndt Vogel @ArndtVogel
liver cancer and precision oncology, Princess Margaret / MHH · Oct 25
🔥Presidential session at ESMO 2026 🔥 CLARITY-Gastric 01: Ph 3 of sonesitatug vedotin in 2L+ CLDN18.2-positive GEC #ESMO26 #ESMOAmbassadors 👉ORR: 23 vs 13% 👉mPFS: 4.2 vs 3.8 mo 👉mOS: 10 vs 5 mo 👉No new safety signals 🧐 exciting results, new option for 2L+ CLDN18.2+ pts @myESMO @ASCO
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Telisotuzumab adizutecan + bevacizumab in refractory metastatic colorectal cancer

Long-term follow-up of a randomized Phase 1 comparison (791RO): telisotuzumab adizutecan (Temab-A, ABBV-400), a c-Met-directed antibody-drug conjugate, plus bevacizumab vs trifluridine-tipiracil plus bevacizumab in third-line or later disease. Michael Cecchini presented it on October 24 in the lower GI rapid oral session; Lisa Salvatore discussed it. The paper was published concurrently in Annals of Oncology. Efficacy favored Temab-A plus bevacizumab, with hematologic toxicity the main concern. A Phase 3 trial is ongoing, and Temab-A is investigational.

Arndt Vogel ESMO 2026 slide photo: overall survival for Temab-A plus bevacizumab vs FTD-TPI plus bevacizumab, Kaplan-Meier curve, presented by Michael Cecchini
Temab-A + bevacizumab vs trifluridine-tipiracil + bevacizumab, overall survival. Michael Cecchini, ESMO 2026, 791RO. Photo posted by @ArndtVogel.
Promising, with open questions
Evelyn Wong @EvelynWongYT
GI medical oncologist, National Cancer Centre Singapore · Oct 24
Thoughtful discussion by Lisa Salvatore: Temab-A + Bev shows promise in mCRC, but haematological toxicity matters. Questions unanswered: What does Bev add? Can c-Met guide selection? What is the optimal dose? Awaiting Phase III validation #ESMO26 #ESMOAmbassadors @OncoAlert https://t.co/n0clts8P3q
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Arndt Vogel @ArndtVogel
liver cancer and precision oncology, Princess Margaret / MHH · Oct 24
Long-term follow-up of Temab-A with Bev vs SOC in 3L+ CRC: Updated results of a ph 1 #ESMO26 #ESMOAmbassadors 👉 mPFS: 6.8 vs 4.2 mo 👉 mOS: 14.7 vs 10.2 mo 👉 manageable safety 🧐Promising, ph-3 ongoing @myESMO @ASCO https://t.co/wPzOVvO83s
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Dr. Cathy Eng @CathyEngMD
GI medical oncologist, Vanderbilt-Ingram · Oct 24
TEMAB-A (ABBV-400) is an ADC focused on on cmet with topo 1 payload in a ph I trial of ABBV-400 + bev vs. TAS-102 + bev in previously treated metastatic #colorectal #cancer. @OncoAlert @oncodaily #ESMO2026 Median follow-up: 18.2 M Median OS 14.7M and HR = 0.62 Proceeding onto Ph 3 trial: NCT06614192 @Cecchini_OncMD
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KOL Voices: GI cancer leaderboard

The top physicians on the ESMO 2026 KOL leaderboard, GI tab. One line from each, verbatim, with the trial it is about.

  1. 1
  2. 2
    MV Chandrakanth medical oncologist, Narayana Health Kolkata · 48.7K impressions, 63 posts
  3. 3
  4. 4
  5. 5
    Arndt Vogel liver cancer and precision oncology, Princess Margaret / MHH · 31.8K impressions, 28 posts
  6. 6
    Anirban Maitra GI pathologist and pancreatic cancer researcher · 31.2K impressions, 5 posts
  7. 7
    Angela Lamarca HPB and NET medical oncologist · 22.0K impressions, 42 posts
  8. 8Daisuke Kotani, MD, Ph.D 小谷 大輔
  9. 9
    Shankar Siva radiation oncologist, Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre · 20.2K impressions, 9 posts
  10. 10

What’s yet to come: GI sessions on October 26–27

Times are Madrid time. Presidential Symposium III (October 26) has no GI abstracts.

Monday, October 26, 08:30 - 10:00 (Madrid) · Special symposium
Almeria Auditorium - Hall 9 · Chairs: Lin Shen (Beijing, China); Kohei Shitara (Kashiwa, Japan)
  • 08:30 - 08:45 Antibody Drug Conjugates · Jeeyun Lee (Seoul, Republic of Korea)
  • 08:45 - 09:00 BITE and immune checkpoints · Lisa L. Liu Burström (Stockholm, Sweden)
  • 09:00 - 09:15 Overview of RAS and other mutational targets · Jeroen Dekervel (Leuven, Belgium)
  • 09:15 - 09:30 Personalised vaccines and cell therapies · Lin Shen (Beijing, China)
Monday, October 26, 10:15 - 11:45 (Madrid) · Special symposium
Bilbao Auditorium - Hall 3 · Chairs: Irit Ben-Aharon (Haifa, Israel); Maeve A. Lowery (Dublin, Ireland)
  • 10:15 - 10:35 Deciphering pancreatic cancer: Tumor biology, metastasis, and molecular vulnerabilities · Vincenzo Corbo (Verona, Italy)
  • 10:35 - 10:55 Early-onset pancreatic cancer: The role of the host · Irit Ben-Aharon (Haifa, Israel)
  • 10:55 - 11:15 Next-generation therapies: ADCs, small molecules, and rational combinations · Teresa Macarulla Mercade (Barcelona, Spain)
  • 11:15 - 11:35 Immunotherapy in pancreatic cancer: Overcoming barriers to Success · Vinod Balachandran (New York, United States of America)
Monday, October 26, 14:45 - 16:15 (Madrid) · Rapid Oral session
Barcelona Auditorium - Hall 9 · Chairs: Monica Niger (Milan, Italy); Chiara Braconi (Glasgow, United Kingdom); Anna Saborowski (Hannover, Germany)
  • 14:45 - 14:50 LBA85 - HRS-4642 plus chemotherapy ± adebrelimab as perioperative therapy in KRAS G12D-mutant pancreatic cancer: Preliminary results of a phase 2 study · Chenlei Wen (Shanghai, China)
  • 14:50 - 14:55 3137RO - Safety and efficacy of INCB161734, a novel oral KRAS G12D inhibitor, in combination with chemotherapy in patients (pts) with advanced/metastatic pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) · Antoine Hollebecque (Villejuif, France)
  • 14:55 - 15:07 Invited Discussant LBA84, LBA85 and 3137RO · Monica Niger (Milan, Italy)
  • 15:07 - 15:12 1678RO - Phase 3 LEAP-012 study of lenvatinib + pembrolizumab vs dual placebo with transarterial chemoembolization (TACE) for unresectable non-metastatic hepatocellular carcinoma: Long-term OS results · Josep M. Llovet (Barcelona, Spain)
  • 15:12 - 15:17 1680RO - Phase I study of C-CAR031, a GPC3-targeted TGFβRIIDN armored autologous CAR-T, in advanced hepatocellular carcinoma (aHCC): Updated results · Qi Zhang (Hangzhou, China)
  • 15:17 - 15:29 Invited Discussant 1678RO and 1680RO · Anna Saborowski (Hannover, Germany)
  • 15:29 - 15:34 LBA22 - OPTIMUM: A randomized phase 2 study of maintenance olaparib (Ola) with or without durvalumab (Durva) in DDR gene-mutated advanced biliary tract cancer (aBTC) · Changhoon Yoo (Seoul, Republic of Korea)
  • 15:34 - 15:39 473RO - Subcutaneous anti-PD-L1 monoclonal antibody envafolimab plus gemcitabine and oxaliplatin (GEMOX) versus GEMOX alone as first-line treatment for advanced biliary tract cancer in Chinese patients: A randomized, open-label, multicenter, registrational phase III trial · Weijia Fang (Hangzhou, China)
  • 15:39 - 15:51 Invited Discussant LBA22 and 473RO · Chiara Braconi (Glasgow, United Kingdom)
Tuesday, October 27, 09:00 - 13:00 (Madrid) · Congress highlights
Almeria Auditorium - Hall 9 · Chairs: James Larkin (London, United Kingdom); Yelena Y. Janjigian (New York, United States of America)
  • 12:00 - 12:20 Gastrointestinal tumours, lower digestive · Erika B. Ruiz-García (Mexico City, Mexico)
  • 12:20 - 12:40 Gastrointestinal tumours, upper digestive · Florian Lordick (Leipzig, Germany)

FAQ

Which GI cancer trials did physicians discuss most at ESMO 2026?

By physician posts on X on October 23-25, the top GI trials were SANO, HERIZON-GEA-01, COMPANION-002, G-HOPE-001, ACTICCA-1, RASolute 302, KEYNOTE-975, HARMONi-GI1, PRABITAS, IROCAS and AZUR-1.

What did HERIZON-GEA-01 show at ESMO 2026?

At the second interim analysis (ESMO 2026 LBA79, data cutoff July 15, 2026), zanidatamab plus chemotherapy improved OS vs trastuzumab plus chemotherapy: 22.9 vs 19.6 months, HR 0.76 (95% CI 0.62-0.93), P=0.0088. Adding tislelizumab vs zanidatamab plus chemotherapy: HR 0.81, P=0.0502, not statistically significant. Both regimens have been FDA approved since August 25, 2026, with different HER2 criteria.

Does SANO show active surveillance is as good as surgery?

SANO found no statistically significant difference in 5-year OS (50% vs 54%, HR 1.17, 95% CI 0.77-1.77), but distant metastases were higher with surveillance (46% vs 29%). Equivalence was not formally shown, and physicians on X disagreed on whether to offer surveillance.

What was new for RASolute 302 at ESMO 2026?

Subgroup analyses (LBA82) showed OS hazard ratios below 1 across RAS genotypes, with small subgroups such as G12R (HR 0.61, 95% CI 0.29-1.30) having wide confidence intervals. Daraxonrasib (Rasonque) has been FDA approved since August 26, 2026 without a RAS-status restriction.

What did AZUR-1 show at ESMO 2026?

In 154 patients with untreated stage II/III dMMR/MSI-H rectal cancer given dostarlimab alone, cCR12 by independent central review (the primary endpoint) was 47% (54/116), and 68% by investigator assessment in 144 evaluable patients; 71% (110/154) had no further treatment and no disease progression at data cutoff (FDA notice, October 19, 2026). Dostarlimab (Jemperli) received FDA accelerated approval for this indication on October 19, 2026.

When were HARMONi-GI1 and CLARITY-Gastric01 presented?

Both were presented in Presidential Symposium II on October 25: CLARITY-Gastric01 (LBA7, Rui-Hua Xu; invited discussant Salah-Eddin Al-Batran) and HARMONi-GI1 (LBA8, Jian Zhou; invited discussant James J. Harding). Ivonescimab and sonesitatug vedotin are investigational in the US.

Which GI sessions are still ahead at ESMO 2026?

On October 26: a special symposium on upper GI cancer, a pancreatic cancer symposium, and the upper GI rapid oral session with LBA85, 3137RO, LEAP-012 long-term OS (1678RO), 1680RO, OPTIMUM (LBA22) and 473RO. On October 27: congress highlights for lower and upper GI cancers.

KOL Pulse tracks what oncologists and hematologists post on X. Posts quoted here are shown in full and verbatim unless marked as an excerpt, and link to their source. Trial figures come from KOL Pulse trial pages, with the source and data cutoff in parentheses.