HER2 as a targetable biomarker in gastrointestinal oncology
In this interview, Dr Yelena Janjigian answers the following questions:
- What is the clinical significance of HER2 alterations across different GI cancers?
- What are the current recommendations for biomarker testing for HER2 alterations across different GI cancers?
- How can HER2 testing be optimized in clinical practice?
Yelena Y Janjigian, MD, is a professor and chief of the Gastrointestinal Oncology Service at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center (MSK), and a physician–scientist leading translational research and clinical innovation to improve outcomes for patients with gastrointestinal (GI) cancers. Dr Janjigian earned her BSc from UC San Diego and MD from NYU School of Medicine, completing her residency at NYU/Bellevue and fellowship at MSK. Her research focuses on the molecular characterization of gastro-oesophageal cancers, driving therapeutic development and bringing new drugs to the clinic. She has published over 140 papers in The New England Journal of Medicine, Journal of Clinical Oncology, Lancet Oncology, Lancet, and Nature, with more than 33,000 citations and an h-index of 61. An elected member of the American Society for Clinical Investigation (ASCI), Dr Janjigian serves on the Board of Giants of Cancer Care, Debbie’s Dream Foundation and holds leadership roles in ASCO and AACR. She is also the scientific chair for ESMO 2026. Her research, funded by NIH, DOD and SU2C, has shaped new treatment standards in GI oncology. Beyond research, she is a dedicated mentor, driving innovation and training the next generation of oncology leaders.
Dr Yelena Janjigian discloses: Consultant and/or advisory board fees from Abbvie, Alphasights, Amerisource Bergen, Ask-Gene Pharma, Inc., Arcus Biosciences, Astellas, AstraZeneca, Basilea Pharmaceutica, Bayer, BeOne, Boehringer Ingelheim, Bristol-Myers Squibb, Daiichi-Sankyo, eChina Health, Eisai, Eli Lilly, Geneos Therapeutics, Gilead Sciences, GlaxoSmithKline, Guardant Health, Inc., Health Advances, Imedex, Imugene, Inspirna, Lynx Health, Master Clinician Alliance, Merck, Merck Serono, Mersana Therapeutics, Pfizer, Sanofi Genzyme, Seagen, Silverback Therapeutics, Suzhou Liangyihui, Network Technology Co., Ltd, Talem Health, Zymeworks Inc. Grants/research support from Astellas, AstraZeneca, Arcus Biosciences, Bayer, Bristol Myers Squibb, Eli Lilly, Genentech/Roche, Inspirna, Merck, Transcenta. Stock/Shareholder (self-managed) Inspirna, Veda Life Sciences Inc.
In this interview, Prof. Eric Van Cutsem answers the following questions:
- What are the key clinical trials and the latest efficacy data for HER2-targeting treatments for GI cancers
- What are the latest safety data for HER2-targeting treatments for GI cancers in the key clinical trials?
- What is the potential clinical relevance of identifying HER2 alterations in rare GI tumours, such as bile duct cancer?
Eric Van Cutsem, MD, PhD, is full professor at University of Leuven (KULeuven) and the University Hospitals Gasthuisberg, Belgium and division head of digestive oncology. Since October 2023, he has been professor emeritus with tasks at the University of Leuven, which include being a board member of the Faculty of Medicine of KULeuven. His research interests include various aspects of gastrointestinal and digestive cancers (colorectal, gastric, pancreas, bile duct, oesophageal cancer and neuroendocrine tumours). He is known as a worldwide clinical expert in gastrointestinal oncology and consults for patients across the globe and featured in Belgium in the media programme: Topdokters. He co-founded and is chair of ESMO/World Congress on Gastrointestinal Cancer in Barcelona, Spain and continues to chair ESMO GI. He serves/has served on the board of key committees of ESMO , UEG, ASCO , ENET, EORTC , ECO, ESDO, ESO and of patient advocacy groups EuropaColon (medical director) and Digestive Cancers Europe (DICE; co-founder, executive board), the Foundation Engie (CSR) France & Belgium. In 2025, he was appointed as a member of the Scientific Council of IARC/WHO (International Agency for Research on Cancer/World Health Organization). He is/was chairman of the governmental colon cancer prevention task force in Flanders, president and treasurer of Belgian Group Digestive Oncology, and president/vice president of Familial Polyposis Association (FAPA). He is/was a member of scientific advisory boards for different international hospitals/cancer centers. He was instrumental in the law on the recognition of digestive oncology and was a member of the governmental commission of recognition for specialists in gastroenterology/digestive oncology from 2014 to 2024.
He is a member of the Belgian Royal Academy of Medicine and president of the Belgian Foundation against Cancer (Stichting tegen Kanker; Fondation contre le Cancer). In 2018, he became doctor honoris causa of the Medical University of Warsaw, Poland and received several national and international awards, amongst which were the ESMO Award and the European Awards in Medicine for Cancer Research in 2019. He became an honorary member of the Hungarian Society of Clinical Oncology and of the Spanish TTD group (Group of Gastrointestinal Tumours) in 2024. He has published extensively, leading to more than 125,000 citations and an h-factor of 154. He is in the top 3 most cited medical scientists in Belgium.
Professor Eric Van Cutsem discloses: Consultant and/or advisory board fees from Abbvie, Agenus, ALX, Amgen, Arcus Biosciences, Astellas, AstraZeneca, Bayer, Beigene, Bexon Clinical, Biontech, Boehringer Ingelheim, Bristol-Myers Squibb, Cantargia, Daiichi, Debiopharma, Elmedix, Eisai, Fosum, Galapagos, GSK, Ipsen, Iteos, Lilly, Merck Sharp & Dohme, Merck KGaA, Microbial Machines, Mirati, Novartis, Nordic, Novocure, Pierre Fabre, Pfizer, Sanofi, Seattle Genetics, Servier, Simcere, Takeda, Taiho, Trishula, Zymeworks.
In this interview, Prof. Florian Lordick answers the following questions:
- Where do HER2-targeted therapies fit in the management of GI cancers?
- What are key best practices to identify patients who may benefit from HER2-targeted therapies?
- Should patients be retested at progression?
- What are the key safety considerations for HER2-targeted treatments and how can they be managed?
- Which emerging HER2-targeting treatments or approaches show the most promise for patients with GI cancers?
Florian Lordick is a full professor of medicine at the University of Leipzig, Germany, and a guest professor at Charles University in Prague. He was appointed as director of the University Cancer Center Leipzig in 2012, which is one of 15 German oncology centers of excellence and receives funding from the German Cancer Aid. He also is head of the Department of Medicine (oncology, gastroenterology, hepatology and pulmonology) at the University of Leipzig Medical Center. Prof. Lordick’s scientific focus is on clinical and translational research in immuno-oncology and targeted treatment of cancer, with a specific focus on gastrointestinal tract tumours. He has a great interest in multimodality treatment of GI cancers, in personalized medicine and in cancer survivorship. His research is funded by the German Cancer Aid, the German Ministry of Education and Research and by the European Commission. Prof. Lordick has authored and co-authored more than 500 peer-reviewed articles. He has served as director of education at the European Society for Medical Oncology (ESMO), as president of the International Gastric Cancer Association (IGCA) and he is a former member of the executive board of the German Cancer Society and former chair of the EORTC Gastrointestinal Tract Cancer working groups. Since 2024, he has been a member of the executive board of the International Cancer Foundation (ICF). He is the editor-in-chief of ESMO Gastrointestinal Oncology (Elsevier), official scientific journal of ESMO and of Die Onkologie (Springer Nature), official journal of the German Cancer Society.
Professor Florian Lordick discloses: Consultant and/or advisory board fees from Amgen, Astellas, AstraZeneca, Boehringer Ingelheim, Bristol Myers Squibb, Daiichi Sankyo, Gilead Sciences, Merck Sharp & Dohme, PAGE Therapeutics. Grants/research support from AstraZeneca, Beigene, Gilead Sciences.
Expert Interviews
Useful Tips
Please complete the below so we can prepare your certificate download.
HER2 as a targetable biomarker in gastrointestinal oncology
Check your Inbox
We've sent your certificate
Thank you
for your Feedback!
Expert Interviews
Listen on the Go
Learning Objectives & Overview
Downloads
Downloads21
View and download resources from this activity to support your learning and share with colleagues
English Downloads
Simplified Chinese Downloads
You Might Also Like9
Expert Interviews
This activity is for healthcare professionals outside of the UK
This activity is funded by an independent medical education grant from AstraZeneca.
The activity is jointly provided by USF Health and touchIME.
touchIME is an EBAC® accredited provider.
Could not verify Country/IP Address.
We were unable to verify your IP address, please try again later. If you are using a method to hide your IP address, such as a VPN or proxy, please disable this and try again.
touchONCOLOGY Register now for FREE access to
- 1000+ topical and insightful peer-reviewed journal articles
- 100+ hours of bite-sized congress highlights
- 10 major therapy areas packed with the latest scientific advances
- 150+ specialties offering learn-on-the-go medical education
- Concise email updates and newsletters so you never miss out
This Activity Is Funded By:
An independent medical education grant from AstraZeneca.
The activity is jointly provided by USF Health and touchIME.
touchIME is an EBAC® accredited provider.
The information provided by this CME activity is for continuing education purposes only and is not meant to substitute for the independent medical/clinical judgment of a healthcare provider relative to diagnostic and treatment options of a specific patient’s medical condition.
USF
USF is an Equal Opportunity / Affirmative Action / Equal Access Institution.
USF Health is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education, the American Nurses Credentialing Center and the Accreditation Council for Pharmacy Education to provide continuing education to healthcare professionals. As an accredited provider, USF Health is required to disclose personal information to relevant accredited bodies that certify CME to process credits/contact hours, comply with reporting requirements, and for internal recordkeeping and regulatory purposes. USF Health does not share or sell any individual’s contact information or unique identifiers to any commercial supporter, advertiser, or third party without the specific permission of the individual.
Date of original release: 21 August 2025. Date credits expire: 21 August 2026
EBAC®
touchIME is an EBAC® accredited provider since 2023.
In compliance with EBAC® guidelines, all speakers/ chairpersons participating in this programme have disclosed or indicated potential conflicts of interest which might cause a bias in the presentations. The Organizing Committee/Course Director is responsible for ensuring that all potential conflicts of interest relevant to the event are declared to the audience prior to the CME activities.
Unapproved products or unapproved uses of approved products may be discussed by the faculty; these situations may reflect the approval status in one or more jurisdictions. The presenting faculty have been advised by touchIME and USF Health to ensure that they disclose any such references made to unlabeled or unapproved use. No endorsement by touchIME or USF Health of any unapproved products or unapproved uses is either made or implied by mention of these products or uses in touchIME or USF Health activities. touchIME and USF Health accept no responsibility for errors or omissions.
This content is intended for healthcare professionals outside the UK.
Date of original release: 21 August 2025. Date credits expire: 21 August 2027
Time to complete: 48 minutes
If you have any questions regarding the EBAC® credits, please contact accreditation@touchime.org
Log into your Touch Account
Earn and track your CME credits on the go, save articles for later, and follow the latest congress coverage.
Sign up with an Email
Or use a .
This Functionality is for
Members Only
Explore the latest in medical education and stay current in your field. Create a free account to track your learning.