Evolving Role of Consolidative Radiation Therapy for Gastrointestinal Malignancies

A subset of patients with limited metastatic cancer coined oligometastatic disease can benefit from aggressive local therapy, such as SABR, thus prolong survival by eradicating all sites of visible cancer. Initial single-arm reports of patients treated with this approach showed impressive results and have led to the development of randomized trials aiming to demonstrate improved survival with the addition of SAbR to standard-of-care systemic therapy. (1, DaPalma). The variety of biology and presentations of oligometastatic GI cancers makes it difficult to conduct randomized controlled trials. Radiation therapy is a treatment option for oligometastatic gastrointestinal (GI) cancers, and it can help improve locoregional control and progression-free survival. We will discuss current treatment guidelines and paradigms for GI oligometastatic disease in a multidisciplinary case-based approach to optimize patient outcome, survival and quality of life.

Topics:

  1. Who is the Optimal Patient for Consolidative Radiation Therapy in Gastrointestinal Cancers? A Medical Oncologist's Perspective 
    Zev A. Wainberg, MD
  2. Is There a Role for Radiation Therapy in Oligometastatic Hepatobiliary Cancer?
    Julius Weng, MD
  3. Defining a Role for Radiation Therapy in Limited Metastatic Esophageal and Gastric Cancers
    Higinia Rosa Cardenes, MD, PhD, FASTRO
  4. Clinical Cases/Q and A
    Suzanne Mary Russo, MD – Moderator
    Full Panel

This activity is available from February 3, 2026, through 11:59 p.m. Eastern time on February 2, 2028. 

The content was originally presented and recorded at the 2025 ASTRO Annual Meeting.

Target Audience

The activity is designed to meet the interests of medical oncologists, radiation oncologists, surgeons, physicists, nurses and residents.

Learning Objectives

Upon completion of this activity, participants should be able to:

  • For gastrointestinal (GI) oligometastatic cancer, the objectives of reviewing ongoing research and clinical trials aim to bridge the gap in evidence regarding patient selection and treatment decisions. These efforts are particularly important for refining treatment strategies, optimizing patient outcomes, and defining the characteristics of GI oligometastatic disease more precisely. 
  • Discuss multidisciplinary approaches and treatment guidelines with biomarkers, molecular testing to optimize systemic and local therapy to improve the prognosis for patients with oligometastatic disease, moving toward an individualized, evidence-driven care paradigm. 
Course summary
Available credit: 
  • 1.00 AMA PRA Category 1 Credit™

    The American Society for Radiation Oncology (ASTRO) is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education for physicians. ASTRO designates this Enduring material for a maximum of 1.00 AMA PRA Category 1 Credit™. Physicians should claim only the credit commensurate with the extent of their participation in the activity.

  • 1.00 Certificate of Attendance
    This activity was designated for 1.00 AMA PRA Category 1 Credit™.
Course opens: 
02/03/2026
Course expires: 
02/02/2028
Cost:
$149.00
Rating: 
0

Moderator: 

  • Suzanne Mary Russo, MD, is employed by University Hospitals Seidman Cancer Center and Case Western Reserve University. Dr. Russo has no relevant financial relationship with ineligible companies to disclose. 

Speakers: 

  • Zev A. Wainberg, MD, is employed by UCLA. Dr. Wainberg has no relevant financial relationship with ineligible companies to disclose.
  • Julius Weng, MD, is employed by Orange County Lennar Foundation Cancer Hospital. Dr. Weng has no relevant financial relationship with ineligible companies to disclose.   
  • Higinia Rosa Cardenes, MD, PhD, FASTRO, is employed by NewYork-Presbyterian/Weill Cornell Medical Center. Dr. Cardenes has no relevant financial relationship with ineligible companies to disclose.

Planners: 

  • Malcolm Mattes, MD is employed at Rutgers Cancer Institute. Dr. Mattes received research/grant funding from Gilead Sciences (relationship ended 8/30/2025). Dr. Mattes has no relevant financial relationship with ineligible companies. 
  • Parul Barry, MD, is employed by the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center. Dr. Barry has no relevant financial relationship with ineligible companies. 
  • Michael Haddock, MD, is employed by Mayo Clinic and has no relevant financial relationship with ineligible companies to disclose.
  • Manisha Palta, MD, is employed by Duke Cancer Center and Duke University Hospital. Dr. Palta receives grant/research funding from Merck and Varian Medical Systems. 
  • Salma Jabbour, MD, is employed by Rutgers Cancer Institute. Dr. Jabbour receives grant/research funding from Merck & Co., Inc. and Beigene. Dr. Jabbour receives compensation/payment as a consultant with Radialogica and IMX Medical. 

All relevant financial relationships have been mitigated.

The American Society for Radiation Oncology (ASTRO) is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education (ACCME) to provide continuing medical education for physicians.

Available Credit

  • 1.00 AMA PRA Category 1 Credit™

    The American Society for Radiation Oncology (ASTRO) is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education for physicians. ASTRO designates this Enduring material for a maximum of 1.00 AMA PRA Category 1 Credit™. Physicians should claim only the credit commensurate with the extent of their participation in the activity.

  • 1.00 Certificate of Attendance
    This activity was designated for 1.00 AMA PRA Category 1 Credit™.

Price

Cost:
$149.00
Please login or register to take this course.

Course Fees:
ASTRO members must log in to the ASTRO website to view and receive the member rate.

  • Nonmember: $149
  • Member: $99
  • Member-in-Training: $49
  • Student/Graduate Student/PGY-1 Member: $49
  • Postdoctoral Fellow Member: $49

If you are an ASTRO member from a low or lower-middle income country, as identified by the World Bank, you can receive a 50% discount off your corresponding registration for this activity. Please email [email protected] to inquire about the discount.

Policies:
No refunds, extensions, or substitutions will be made for those participants who, for any reason, have not completed the activity by the expiration date. 

Participants using ASTRO Academy activities to satisfy the requirement of a Continuing Certification (MOC) program should verify the credit number and type and availability dates of any activity before making a purchase. No refunds, extensions, or substitutions will be made for participants who have purchased activities that do not align with their MOC requirement.

The activity and its materials will only be available on the ASTRO website until February 2, 2028, regardless of purchase date. At the expiration of the activity, participants will no longer have access to the activity or its materials. ASTRO reserves the right to remove an activity before its expiration date. 

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