Biomarkers in gastroesophageal cancer 2025: an updated consensus statement by the Spanish Society of Medical Oncology (SEOM) and the Spanish Society of Pathology (SEAP).

Gastroesophageal carcinomas, including gastroesophageal adenocarcinoma (GEA) and esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC), pose a global health challenge due to their heterogeneity. The approach to diagnosis and treatment should first differentiate between GEA and ESCC. Over the past decade, therapies for metastatic or advanced GEA/ESCC have expanded, with several new therapeutic targets alongside trastuzumab for metastatic HER2-positive GEA.

SEOM-GEMCAD-TTD clinical guidelines for the management of hepatocarcinoma patients (2023).

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is the most common primary malignancy in the liver and is the third cause of cancer-related death worldwide. Surveillance with abdominal ultrasound should be offered to individuals at high risk for developing HCC. Accurate diagnosis, staging, and liver function are crucial when determining the optimal therapeutic approach.

Incidence and causes of hospitalization in patients with transthyretin (ATTR-CA) and light chain (AL-CA) cardiac amyloidosis.

Introduction And Objetives: Cardiac amyloidosis (CA) is a disorder associated with high number of hospital admissions. Given the scarce information available, we propose an analysis of the incidence and causes of hospitalization in this disease.

Material And Methods: One hundred and forty-three patients [128 by transthyretin (ATTR-CA) and 15 by light chains (AL-CA)] included in Registro de Amiloidosis Cardiaca de Galicia (AMIGAL) were evaluated, including all hospitalizations.

[Cytomegalovirus reactivation in patients with immune-mediated gastritis].

Introduction: Reactivation of cytomegalovirus can complicate the evolution of patients with gastritis induced by immune checkpoint inhibitors.

Methods: The experience in our center is described and a review of the literature is performed.

Results: A case of severe gastritis induced by treatment with a programmed cell death receptor-1 (anti-PD1) inhibitor, associated with reactivation of cytomegalovirus (CMV) is described.

Nivolumab after selective internal radiation therapy for the treatment of hepatocellular carcinoma: a phase 2, single-arm study.

Purpose: To evaluate the safety and efficacy of selective internal radiation therapy (SIRT) in combination with a PD-1 inhibitor in patients with unresectable hepatocellular carcinoma (uHCC) and liver-only disease ineligible for chemoembolization.

Patients And Methods: NASIR-HCC is a single-arm, multicenter, open-label, phase 2 trial that recruited from 2017 to 2019 patients who were naïve to immunotherapy and had tumors in the BCLC B2 substage (single or multiple tumors beyond the up-to-7 rule), or unilobar tumors with segmental or lobar portal vein invasion (PVI); no extrahepatic spread; and preserved liver function. Patients received SIRT followed 3 weeks later by nivolumab (240 mg every 2 weeks) for up to 24 doses or until disease progression or unacceptable toxicity.

SEOM-GEMCAD-TTD Clinical Guideline for the diagnosis and treatment of esophageal cancer (2021).

Esophageal cancer is an aggressive tumor, and is the sixth-leading cause of death from cancer. Incidence is rising in Spain, particularly among men. Two main pathological different subtypes have been described: squamous cell carcinoma and adenocarcinoma.

Evaluating Alternative Ramucirumab Doses as a Single Agent or with Paclitaxel in Second-Line Treatment of Locally Advanced or Metastatic Gastric/Gastroesophageal Junction Adenocarcinoma: Results from Two Randomized, Open-Label, Phase II Studies.

Studies JVDB and JVCZ examined alternative ramucirumab dosing regimens as monotherapy or combined with paclitaxel, respectively, in patients with advanced/metastatic gastric/gastroesophageal junction (GEJ) adenocarcinoma. For JVDB, randomized patients ( = 164) received ramucirumab monotherapy at four doses: 8 mg/kg every 2 weeks (Q2W) (registered dose), 12 mg/kg Q2W, 6 mg/kg weekly (QW), or 8 mg/kg on days 1 and 8 (D1D8) every 3 weeks (Q3W). The primary objectives were the safety and pharmacokinetics of ramucirumab monotherapy.

A Definitive Prognostication System for Patients With Thoracic Malignancies Diagnosed With Coronavirus Disease 2019: An Update From the TERAVOLT Registry.

Introduction: Patients with thoracic malignancies are at increased risk for mortality from coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), and a large number of intertwined prognostic variables have been identified so far.

Methods: Capitalizing data from the Thoracic Cancers International COVID-19 Collaboration (TERAVOLT) registry, a global study created with the aim of describing the impact of COVID-19 in patients with thoracic malignancies, we used a clustering approach, a fast-backward step-down selection procedure, and a tree-based model to screen and optimize a broad panel of demographics and clinical COVID-19 and cancer characteristics.

Results: As of April 15, 2021, a total of 1491 consecutive eligible patients from 18 countries were included in the analysis.

Incidence of venous thromboembolism in patients with non-hematological cancer admitted for COVID-19 at a third-level hospital in Madrid.

An increased risk of venous thromboembolism (VTE) in hospitalized patients with COVID-19 has been reported. We aimed to describe the incidence rate of VTE on patients with non-hematological cancer who required hospitalization due to COVID-19 at our center. In this prospective study, non-hematological cancer patients hospitalized for confirmed COVID-19 at our institution from 1st March to 30th April 2020, were evaluated daily for VTE complications during their hospital stay, and after discharge until 30th June 2020.

SARS-CoV-2 infection in cancer patients undergoing active treatment: analysis of clinical features and predictive factors for severe respiratory failure and death.

Aim: Previous studies have suggested a more frequent and severe course of novel coronavirus SARS-CoV-2 infection in cancer patients undergoing active oncologic treatment. Our aim was to describe the characteristics of the disease in this population and to determine predictive factors for poor outcome in terms of severe respiratory distress (acute respiratory distress syndrome [ARDS]) or death.

Patients And Methods: Patients consecutively admitted for SARS-CoV-2 infection were prospectively collected, and retrospective statistical analysis was performed.

An unsuspected complication with immune checkpoint blockade: a case report.

Background: Immunotherapy treatment with immune-checkpoint blockade has become a new paradigm in cancer treatment. Despite its efficacy, it has also given rise to a new class of adverse events, immune-related adverse events, which may affect any organ, including the thyroid and the pituitary.

Case Presentation: We present a case of a 77-year-old Caucasian man with metastatic renal cell carcinoma on immunotherapy treatment who was admitted to our hospital with a severe persistent headache of sudden onset.

Genomic Profiling of HER2-Positive Gastric Cancer: PI3K/Akt/mTOR Pathway as Predictor of Outcomes in HER2-Positive Advanced Gastric Cancer Treated with Trastuzumab.

Background: HER2-positive gastric cancer (GC) affects 7%-34% of patients with GC. Trastuzumab-based first-line treatment has become the standard of care for HER2-positive advanced gastric cancer (AGC). However, there are no clinically validated biomarkers for resistance to HER2-targeted therapies.

Positioning of second-line treatment for advanced gastric and gastroesophageal junction adenocarcinoma.

Tumors of the upper gastrointestinal tract are increasing in incidence; yet, approaches to the treatment of advanced gastric and/or gastroesophageal junction cancer vary widely, with no internationally agreed first-line regimens. Recent clinical trials have shown that second-line treatment is now possible for selected patients with advanced disease, and current data suggest that the combination of ramucirumab plus paclitaxel may become a standard of care in the second-line setting for metastatic gastric cancer. Several prognostic factors have been identified for overall survival in the second-line setting; this emphasizes the need for careful sequencing of all treatments to ensure that individual patients receive optimum care.

Prognostic significance of performing universal HER2 testing in cases of advanced gastric cancer.

Background: Trastuzumab significantly improves overall survival (OS) when added to cisplatin and fluoropyrimidine as a treatment for HER2-positive advanced gastric cancers (AGC). The aim of this study was to evaluate the impact of the gradual implementation of HER2 testing on patient prognosis in a national registry of AGC.

Methods: This Spanish National Cancer Registry includes cases who were consecutively recruited at 28 centers from January 2008 to January 2016.

No evidence of morbidity compression in Spain: a time series study based on national hospitalization records.

Objectives: Compression of morbidity postulates that as the populations age, the age of onset of disease is postponed. The objective of this study is to test for evidence of compression of morbidity in Spain.

Methods: We calculated the age and sex-specific incidence of myocardial infarction, heart failure, cerebrovascular disease, as well as bladder, prostate, breast, lung, and colon cancer among hospital discharges covering 99.

A critical review of HER2-positive gastric cancer evaluation and treatment: from trastuzumab, and beyond.

Identification of the importance of human epidermal growth factor receptor-2 (HER2) status, biomarker testing and the development of anti-HER2 treatments have changed the prognosis of breast and gastric cancers. The addition of trastuzumab to chemotherapy has improved outcomes for patients with HER2-positive metastatic adenocarcinoma of the stomach and gastroesophageal junction, but some relevant issues remain to be elucidated or will emerge with new drugs. This article reviews the current state of HER2 in gastric cancer focusing on diagnostic and anti-HER2 targeted treatment issues and the role of trastuzumab in localized disease, and its combination or integration with new therapies.

Level of HER2 gene amplification predicts response and overall survival in HER2-positive advanced gastric cancer treated with trastuzumab.

Purpose: Previous studies have highlighted the importance of an appropriate human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2) evaluation for the proper identification of patients eligible for treatment with anti-HER2 targeted therapies. Today, the relationship remains unclear between the level of HER2 amplification and the outcome of HER2-positive gastric cancer treated with first-line chemotherapy with trastuzumab. The aim of this study was to determine whether the level of HER2 gene amplification determined by the HER2/CEP17 ratio and HER2 gene copy number could significantly predict some benefit in overall survival and response to therapy in advanced gastric cancer treated with trastuzumab-based chemotherapy.

Phase I study investigating everolimus combined with sorafenib in patients with advanced hepatocellular carcinoma.

Background & Aims: Sorafenib is the only therapy shown to improve overall survival in advanced hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Combination therapy targeting multiple signaling pathways may improve outcomes. This phase I study was designed to determine the maximum tolerated dose (MTD) of everolimus given with sorafenib 400mg twice daily in patients with advanced HCC of Child-Pugh class A liver function who were naive to systemic therapy.

A clinical trial of CTLA-4 blockade with tremelimumab in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma and chronic hepatitis C.

Background & Aims: Tremelimumab is a monoclonal antibody that blocks cytotoxic T-lymphocyte-associated antigen 4 (CTLA-4), an inhibitory co-receptor that interferes with T cell activation and proliferation. The purpose of this pilot clinical trial was to test the antitumor and antiviral effect of tremelimumab in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) and chronic hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection; and to study the safety of its administration to cirrhotic patients.

Methods: Tremelimumab at a dose of 15 mg/kg IV every 90 days was administered until tumor progression or severe toxicity.

Incidence of hand-foot syndrome with capecitabine in combination with chemotherapy as first-line treatment in patients with advanced and/or metastatic gastric cancer suitable for treatment with a fluoropyrimidine-based regimen.

Introduction: Hand-foot syndrome (HFS) is a limiting toxicity of capecitabine, which is not life-threatening but could compromise capecitabine efficacy.

Materials And Methods: This phase II, multicenter, non-controlled study assessed the safety, particularly grade three HFS incidence, and efficacy of four capecitabine-based chemotherapy regimens [cisplatin/capecitabine (CX), epirubicin/cisplatin/capecitabine (ECX), epirubicin/oxaliplatin/capecitabine (EOX) and docetaxel/cisplatin/capecitabine (DCX)] as first-line treatment for advanced and/or metastatic gastric cancer.

Results: One hundred and eight patients were assigned to one of the four treatment groups, according to investigator's criteria, and grouped together for both safety and efficacy primary analyses.

HER2/neu testing for anti-HER2-based therapies in patients with unresectable and/or metastatic gastric cancer.

Aim: To study the HER2 gene amplification or overexpression in patients with advanced gastric cancer (GC) and their association with patient characteristics and patient survival.

Patients And Methods: Tumour tissue samples from 148 patients with advanced GC were studied for HER2 by immunohistochemistry (IHC), fluorescence in situ hybridisation (FISH) and dual colour silver enhanced in situ hybridisation (dc-SISH) methods. Clinicopathological data from all patients were collected.

Efficacy and safety of sorafenib in combination with mammalian target of rapamycin inhibitors for recurrent hepatocellular carcinoma after liver transplantation.

There is currently no consensus on the most suitable treatment for the recurrence of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) after liver transplantation. This open, multicenter, retrospective, uncontrolled cohort study was designed to evaluate the safety and preliminary efficacy of the combined use of a mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) inhibitor and sorafenib in this setting. In 31 patients who suffered from HCC recurrence after liver transplantation, the immunosuppressive therapy was changed to mTOR inhibitors, and systemic treatment with sorafenib was initiated.

Consensus of the Spanish Society of Medical Oncology (SEOM) and Spanish Society of Pathology (SEAP) for HER2 testing in gastric carcinoma.

The identification of HER2 alterations in advanced gastric carcinomas is of critical importance in daily clinical practice as such neoplasms require specific treatment with trastuzumab. For these reasons, pathologists and oncologists with expertise in gastric carcinomas and HER2 testing from both organisations (SEAP and SEOM) have endeavoured to discuss and agree on national guidelines for HER2 testing in gastric carcinomas. These guidelines are based on the experience of those who participated in the discussions and also on experience published internationally.

SEOM clinical guidelines for the treatment of pancreatic cancer.

Pancreatic cancer (PC) is one of the main causes of cancer-related death in the United States and Europe. Due to its poor long-term survival, all patients with PC should undergo a comprehensive evaluation by a Multidisciplinary Tumor Committee to establish the best therapeutic strategy. Pathologic PC diagnosis should be made according to the latest WHO classification of malignant tumours and an accurate staging is crucial to assess resectability, determine the extension and, in some cases, reestablish biliary flow.