RECAP: GI ASCO 2017 Hot Topics

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This is part 1 of 3 for our GI ASCO blog recap Fight Colorectal Cancer and four research advocates, all colorectal cancer survivors, were among the 3,500 people who attended 2017 GI ASCO. It is our commitment to send staff and advocates to the conference to stay on the front lines of cutting-edge colorectal cancer research. In addition to going on a poster walk and hosting a wrap up Facebook Live panel, we attended sessions to learn more about the science behind treating cancer and how that science potentially impacts the lives of patients. Here were hot topics we heard about at 2017 GI ASCO:

Microbiome

Helpful genes, bacteria and microbes that are a part of our body The "microbiome" refers to the genes, bacteria and microbes that are a part of our bodies. Dr. Cindy Sears, a microbiome expert from Sidney Kimmel Comprehensive Cancer Center at Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, stated:
“A lot of things that happen to us over time can shift these microbe populations and a shift in those may be associated with disease. Proving that change in the microbiome is responsible is a very high barrier but there is a strong association - we may be able to take those associations to understand therapies.”
The goal for researchers studying microbiome is to understand signals from “bugs” as markers to see who is at a greater risk for CRC and then understand the responses by the microbiome. This will indeed take some time, perhaps a year or several years, before there are real answers. The important takeaway is that top researchers are getting some real clues that will lead to answers in the future.

Sidedness

Left-side versus right-side colon cancer New research efforts are focusing on the “sidedness” of disease for cancers originating in the right side versus the left side of the colon. There seems to be a difference in biology, depending on where the cancer originates, left versus right. Last June, at the ASCO conference in Chicago, initial data was presented that demonstrated patients with right-sided tumors did not have the same results and success rates if anti-EGFR therapy was first line of treatment compared to patients with left-sided tumors. Fast forward to GI ASCO 2017, the data and potential recommendation may be to treat patients with anti-EGFR as the first line of treatment for patients with only left-sided colon cancer. New analyses are building on this research for metastatic and early-stage colon cancer to provide greater understanding on the sidedness question. Below are two studies presented at GI ASCO that look at sidedness:

Sidedness matters: Surrogate biomarkers prognosticate colorectal cancer upon anatomic location

Molecular variances between rectal and left-sided colon cancers

Immunotherapy

One of the most discussed topics in cancer research giasco-immunotherapyslideImmunotherapy uses the body’s own immune system to fight off cancer and the spread of tumors. Over the next year, immunotherapy research will help advance the understanding of mechanisms to manipulate the immune system and cancer cells. These manipulations will help the immune system better detect and kill the cancer cells. Tissue micro-environment of cancer cells is also a growing area of research. The tissue micro-environment of tumors can be altered to allow the immune system to target foreign cells so that rational immunotherapies can be developed. In addition, there are many new clinical trials opening up for patients with microsatellite stable (MSS) colorectal cancer and there are ongoing immunotherapy trials that should push out new data this year. Be sure to stay tuned to get updates! Fight CRC is actively involved in this effort by continuing to convene the Immunotherapy Work Group (consists of over 20 experts in the field) to synthesize research efforts and fund research aimed at improving the effectiveness of immunotherapies for colorectal cancer. A blueprint for advancing the science and therapeutic approaches in immunotherapy for colorectal cancer has also been submitted for publication. In partnership with Cancer Research Institute, we will fund future immunotherapy research work.

Exercise 

Activity may reduce mortality in CRC patients A presentation at GI ASCO highlighted results of a study showing a 19% reduction in mortality for patients who engaged in 30 minutes or more of physical activity per day. There have been many studies showing linkages between exercise and improved outcomes but this study is the “First evidence to show this association in patients with non-local metastases.” This study also presents data showing a 25% reduction in mortality for those patients engaging in non-vigorous activity (five or more hours each week). Integrating exercise and movement into every day is healthy for anyone. In the most recent Fight Colorectal Cancer webinar, “Risk and Risk Reduction,” Dr. Harvey Murff called physical activity the closest thing to a “wonder drug.” This adds to the many studies already showing the many benefits of physical activity, from prehabilitation, to metastatic colorectal cancer survival. To learn more, download our fact sheet about Exercise for Colorectal Cancer patients.

Help Build the Evidence

For patients and advocates, participation in research builds the evidence we need to uncover new drugs and strategies. Whether you can participate in research through a clinical trial, engage as a research advocate or fund research activities, get involved! Stay tuned for the final blog recap for GI ASCO where recap our tour through a cutting-edge research laboratory.