Alliance E-News - February 2026
Alliance Research Recap
 

Alliance Researchers Present Four Abstracts at 2026 ASCO GI

Alliance researchers presented four studies at the 2026 ASCO Gastrointestinal Cancers Symposium, held January 8–10 at the Moscone West Convention Center in San Francisco, CA, highlighting advances in gastrointestinal cancer care. These studies examine new chemotherapy strategies, the role of physical activity in molecular residual disease, and biomarker insights that may guide treatment--offering hope for improved patient outcomes. 

Take a look.

Abstract #TPS279 | Alliance A022104/NRG-GI010, a randomized phase II/III trial testing the efficacy of triplet versus doublet chemotherapy regarding clinical complete response and disease-free survival in patients with locally advanced rectal cancer (LARC): The Janus Rectal
First Author: Caleah Kitchens, MD - Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center
Citation: J Clin Oncol 44, 2026 (suppl 2; abstr TPS279)

Synopsis: This randomized phase II/III trial evaluates whether intensifying consolidation chemotherapy with FOLFIRINOX after long-course chemoradiation improves clinical complete response (cCR) and outcomes in patients with locally advanced rectal cancer compared with standard doublet chemotherapy (mFOLFOX6 or CAPOX). The phase II portion focuses on increasing cCR rates to enable organ preservation via a watch-and-wait approach, while the phase III portion assesses disease-free survival. Secondary endpoints include overall survival, organ preservation duration, distant metastasis, toxicity, and exploratory biomarkers such as ctDNA.

Abstract #163 | Physical activity and molecular residual disease (MRD) in stage III colon cancer: Findings from CALGB (Alliance)/SWOG 80702
First Author: George Zhang, MD. MPH - Brigham and Women's Hospital
Citation: J Clin Oncol 44, 2026 (suppl 2; abstr 163)

Synopsis: This post hoc analysis of the phase III CALGB (Alliance)/SWOG 80702 trial in resected stage III colon cancer examined whether physical activity influences outcomes based on postoperative minimal residual disease (MRD) status assessed by ctDNA. Higher physical activity levels were associated with improved disease-free survival among ctDNA-negative patients but not among ctDNA-positive patients, with no impact on overall survival. These findings suggest physical activity may confer oncologic benefit primarily in patients without detectable MRD and may have additive effects with adjuvant celecoxib.

The following two abstracts present findings based on data from CALGB (Alliance)/SWOG 80405 - A phase III trial of irinotecan, oxaliplatin, and fluoropyrimidine regimens with bevacizumab or cetuximab in patients with advanced colorectal cancer. The trial showed that for patients with advanced colorectal cancer, combining standard chemotherapy with either bevacizumab or cetuximab results in similar overall survival, making both effective first-line treatment options.

Abstract #198 | Indian Hedgehog expression and association with cetuximab benefit in metastatic colorectal cancer (mCRC): Evidence from CALGB (Alliance)/SWOG 80405
First Author: Michela Bartolini, MD - USC Norris Comprehensive Cancer Center and Keck School of Medicine
Citation: J Clin Oncol 44, 2026 (suppl 2; abstr 198)

Synopsis: This translational analysis of CALGB (Alliance)/SWOG 80405 evaluated Hedgehog pathway gene expression as prognostic and predictive biomarkers in metastatic colorectal cancer. High IHH expression and low GLI2 expression were independently associated with improved overall survival. Notably, IHH expression predicted benefit from cetuximab—but not bevacizumab—suggesting a treatment-specific biomarker role. These findings support a context-dependent role of Hedgehog signaling in mCRC biology and identify IHH as a potential predictive marker for anti-EGFR therapy.

Abstract #179 | Neuroligin family genes expression associated with first-line treatment outcomes in patients (pts) with metastatic colorectal cancer (mCRC): Data from CALGB/SWOG 80405 (Alliance)
First Author: Wu Zhang, MD - USC Norris Comprehensive Cancer Center and Keck School of Medicine
Citation: J Clin Oncol 44, 2026 (suppl 2; abstr 179)

Synopsis: This biomarker analysis of CALGB (Alliance)/SWOG 80405 evaluated neuroligin gene expression as prognostic and predictive factors in metastatic colorectal cancer. High expression of NLGN2—and to a lesser extent NLGN3—was associated with worse progression-free and overall survival, particularly among patients treated with cetuximab, with significant treatment–gene interactions favoring bevacizumab in high-expression tumors. These findings suggest NLGN2/3 may serve as negative predictive biomarkers for anti-EGFR therapy and represent potential therapeutic targets in metastatic colorectal cancer.

 

 

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