[Education] Gastrointestinal Cancers Fundamentals

HOPA Now is the official podcast of the Hematology/Oncology/Pharmacy Association, an organization dedicated to supporting pharmacy practitioners and promoting the advancement of Hematology/Oncology/Pharmacy to optimize the care of individuals impacted by cancer.

 

These educational podcasts are part of our BCOP Preparatory and Recertification Course, which is designed to prepare oncology pharmacists preparing to sit for the BCOP Certification Exam, as well as meet the BPS requirement to complete a BCOP Preparatory/Recertification Review Course.

 

In this episode of HOPA Now, Dr. Allison Baxley covers the high points of the pathology, diagnostic workup, and biology of GI cancers, including colon cancers, exocrine pancreatic cancers, upper GI cancers, gastric cancers, and hepatocellular carcinoma. She covers testing and recommendations, demographics and risk factors, the role of genetics, staging locations, and distinct variations between these various GI cancers.

 

In this episode, you will learn:

 

Gastrointestinal Cancers Fundamentals

• The basic pathophysiology and common genetic predisposition of colon cancers
• Recommendations for testing at various stages at colon cancers, including those with metastatic disease
• BRAF testing and recommendations and common patient response
• Considerations for diagnostic workup and staging process that may affect treatment decisions during early-stage disease
• An overview of exocrine pancreatic cancers origination, prognosis, staging decisions and treatment options
• The role of genetics in pancreatic cancers and recommendations for chemotherapy and PARP inhibitors
• Upper GI cancers including esophageal, gastric, and esophagogastric junction cancers and their histologics
• Distinct variations between the geography, demographics and risk factors of adenocarcinomas and squamous cell carcinomas in esophageal cancers
• Staging locations and clinical trials for EG junction tumors
• Specific hereditary risk factors for gastric cancer
• A brief overview of hepatocellular carcinoma including demographics, risk factors, and pathologic types

 

Mentioned in This Episode:

HOPA

 

Quotes:

 

“All colon cancer patients should be tested for MSI and MMR status.” — Dr. Allison Baxley

 

“In patients with early-stage disease, there are several things during the diagnostic workup and staging process that may affect treatment decisions.” — Dr. Allison Baxley

 

“For gastric cancer specifically, there are several hereditary risk factors that put a patient at higher risk.” — Dr. Allison Baxley