Join moderator Caroline DiCristo, PharmD, Associate Medical Director – Zanidatamab of Jazz Pharmaceuticals and GI Oncologist Dr. Umair Majeed of Mayo Clinic in Jacksonville for the first installment of the Advancing Care in GI and Biliary Tract Cancers podcast series, focused on biliary tract cancers.

The first in the series, this episode provides a comprehensive overview of biliary tract cancers, including intrahepatic and extrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma and gallbladder cancer, highlighting their rarity, evolving epidemiology, and complex biology. Dr. Majeed reviews key risk factors such as chronic liver inflammation, primary sclerosing cholangitis, viral hepatitis, gallstones, and metabolic-associated liver disease, emphasizing the importance of early suspicion and multidisciplinary awareness.

Diagnosis & Staging Complexity: The discussion outlines the critical steps required to confirm diagnosis and stage disease accurately:

• Imaging Workup: The role of CT chest, MRI abdomen, and PET imaging in determining resectability and metastatic spread.

• Tissue Acquisition Challenges: Endoscopic approaches, biopsy considerations, and the importance of avoiding peritoneal violation in transplant-eligible hilar cholangiocarcinoma.

• Tumor Markers: Use of CA 19-9 for monitoring disease trends.

• Multidisciplinary Coordination: Collaboration among oncology, gastroenterology, surgery, radiology, pathology, and hepatology teams to optimize patient care.

First-Line Treatment & Molecular Testing:

Dr. Majeed discusses the current standard of care for metastatic disease, including chemoimmunotherapy based on the TOPAZ-1 and KEYNOTE-966 trials, and underscores the critical role of next-generation sequencing in identifying actionable mutations.

HER2 as an Emerging Target:

The episode also introduces HER2 as a clinically meaningful biomarker in biliary tract cancers, particularly in gallbladder and extrahepatic subtypes. Dr. Majeed reviews testing strategies, the importance of immunohistochemistry and confirmatory FISH testing, and emerging second-line HER2-directed therapies that may extend survival while offering chemotherapy-free intervals for appropriate patients.

Tune in for an in-depth discussion on the evolving diagnostic and therapeutic landscape of biliary tract cancers and the essential role of precision medicine and multidisciplinary collaboration in improving outcomes

Join Dr. Edgardo Santos and Dr. Luis Raez for a practical discussion on first-line decision-making in EGFR-mutated lung cancer and how early treatment choices shape survival, sequencing, and patient experience.

This episode explores why first-line therapy represents a critical window for long-term benefit, including the reality that many patients never reach later lines of treatment and the importance of early disease control. The speakers review guideline-supported first-line strategies, discuss how clinicians interpret survival and durability data, and examine the role of CNS disease as a key factor in treatment selection.

The conversation also addresses real-world implementation considerations, including adverse event management, administration and dosing factors, and how early patient education can improve treatment adherence and experience. Learn how interdisciplinary care teams provide proactive support to help optimize outcomes in the first months of therapy.

Tune in for key insights on optimizing first-line strategy and supporting patients from the start of therapy.

Join moderator Dr. Tiago Bianchi and an expert multidisciplinary panel, including Zilipah Cruz, MSN-RN, ONN-CG, Vanessa Sepulveda-Dominguez, RN, BSN, and Charlotte Martin, PharmD, for a deep dive into the essential non-clinical aspects of metastatic colorectal cancer (mCRC) care.

This episode explores the critical role of the entire oncology team in addressing the Social Determinants of Health (SDOH) and supporting patient survivorship.

Key Challenges & Team Coordination: The panel will discuss the reality of holistic patient support, drawing on survey findings:

• SDOH Screening Gaps: While 68% of clinicians report screening for SDOH, most are not using standardized tools, leading to inconsistent identification of patient needs.
• Support & Barriers: Despite 90% of teams reporting access to support resources (e.g., nurse navigation, pharmacy, social work), implementation varies. The top real-world barriers remain insurance, transportation, patient education, and cost.
• The Interdisciplinary Team: Hear how RNs, APPs, PharmDs, and Navigators coordinate care, from assessing SDOH to integrating screening into the EHR, to provide seamless support.

Unique Survivorship Concerns: The conversation addresses the unique survivorship challenges faced by younger mCRC patients, including:

• Managing fertility and sexual health concerns.
• Facilitating the return to work and maintaining career stability.
• The importance of clear patient education, communication, and managing treatment expectations to improve long-term quality of life.

Tune in for a vital discussion on how care teams move beyond clinical treatment to provide comprehensive, coordinated support for the whole mCRC patient.