Continuing with Esophageal Cancer awareness month, Dr. Parikh interviews Dr. Lishan Aklog, who is chairman and CEO of Lucid Diagnostics. They discuss esophageal cancer pathophysiology, prevalence and the current state of esophageal cancer screening. They then shift their focus to EsoGuard, a novel screening tool for Barrett’s esophagus and esophageal cancer.
Author: Abhay Panchal
Surgery for ulcerative colitis (UC) is often curative for colorectal disease and significantly improves quality of life, especially in patients with medically refractory disease. Dr. Stefan Holubar emphasizes that surgery should not be seen as a last resort but as a viable treatment complementing medical therapy. The most common surgical approach is the three-stage J-pouch procedure, allowing patients to eventually defecate normally without an ostomy. This process includes a colectomy, pouch construction with protective ileostomy, and ileostomy closure.
New treatments for stage 4 colorectal cancer are significantly improving outcomes. While the liver is the most common site of metastasis, therapies like hepatic artery infusion (HAI) deliver highly concentrated chemotherapy directly to the liver, reducing side effects and extending survival by up to 2 years. Additionally, liver transplants are now an option for select patients. Targeted therapies and immunotherapies, especially for those with genetic mutations like Lynch syndrome, are expanding hope.
A new study published in JAMA reveals that despite eligibility, lung cancer screening (LCS) is dramatically underutilized compared to breast (BCS) and colorectal cancer screening (CCS). Among dual-eligible individuals, only about 17% underwent LCS, while more than 64% completed BCS or CCS.
Biotech leaders Guardant Health, Natera, and Exact Sciences are driving a major shift in cancer care through minimal residual disease (MRD) blood tests, which detect trace tumor DNA months before imaging can. These ultrasensitive tests not only identify relapse earlier but also help personalize post-surgical treatment and avoid unnecessary chemotherapy. With a projected market size of $6.7B by 2030, MRD testing is reshaping surveillance, particularly for colorectal, breast, and lung cancers. Though adoption faces hurdles—such as profitability and tissue access—this tech is set to redefine how oncology tracks and treats residual disease.
A recent study at City of Hope found that adding circulating tumor DNA (ctDNA) testing to standard imaging surveillance for patients with resected stage II–IV colorectal cancer offered minimal clinical benefit. About 30% of recurrences were missed by ctDNA but caught by imaging, and only 1.6% of patients benefitted from ctDNA leading to earlier curative treatment.
Gastroenterologist compensation declined by 3% in 2024, according to Medscape’s 2025 Physician Compensation Report, published on April 11. The findings are based on responses from 7,322 physicians across 29 specialties, surveyed between October 2, 2024, and January 14, 2025.
At the 2025 Society of Surgical Oncology (SSO) Annual Meeting, Dr. Thinzar Min Lwin of City of Hope highlighted two exciting developments in GI cancer surgery: the increasing use of molecular diagnostics, including spatial transcriptomics and multiplex immunohistochemistry, to predict patient outcomes, and City of Hope’s trial of aerosolized intraperitoneal chemotherapy using mitomycin C for peritoneal surface cancers like colorectal and appendiceal carcinomatosis. These innovations could significantly improve prognostication and redefine treatment approaches for patients with advanced GI cancers.
Between 2012 and 2022, venture capital investment in gastroenterology surged to $33.34 billion across 3,419 deals, growing at a compound annual rate of 15.7%. The majority of funding went to biotechnology and pharmaceuticals (65%), followed by medical devices and supplies. Notably, there was a 141% spike in investment from 2019 to 2020, highlighting growing confidence in GI innovation.
Private gastroenterology practices, with their nimble operational models, are uniquely suited to drive innovation through collaborations with industry partners—especially in research, late-stage clinical trials, and technology adoption. Academic institutions also play a vital role by integrating these collaborations into education and cutting-edge development.