Colorectal cancer physician scientist, NCI Colon Task Force Chair, Professor, and Deputy Chair at The University of Texas, MD Anderson Cancer Center.
Houston, TX
Joined February 2010
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Young-onset colorectal cancer is rising, and CRC demands focus. @MDAndersonNews has created a dedicated Department of Colorectal Medical Oncology to meet that challenge. Honored to serve as its inaugural Chair and partner with new GI Med Onc chair Arvind Dasari @adasarimd #CRCSM
Delighted to share the full #FDA approval for first-line #CRC encorafenib + cetuximab w/ either FOLFOX or FOLFIRI.
The impact from BREAKWATER: Median OS doubled: 30.3 vs 15.1 months, higher PFS, ORR
Test for BRAF V600E rapidly and treat in first-line!
pfizer.com/news/press-releas…
Delighted to be able to share these results. FOLFIRI+EC is an additional treatment option for mCRC patients with BRAF V600E tumors where FOLFOX isn't the right chemo backbone.
🩺 BREAKWATER update: First-line encorafenib/cetuximab + FOLFIRI showed higher response rates than chemo alone (64% vs 40%) in pts with BRAF V600E–mutant mCRC, with similar safety—"supporting a potential new SOC." #colorectalcancer
@skopetz | #ASCOGI26
🔗 ascopost.com/news/january-20…
Exciting to launch this initiative with the full ADAPT team. How is CRC evolving with treatment and through metastases? We will find out. Read about ASCEND-CRC cell.com/cancer-cell/fulltex… and the larger ADAPT program cell.com/cancer-cell/fulltex… in @CancerCell
An example of the type of innovative adaptive design trials being supported by @ARPA_H ADAPT program.
Framework for cancer evolution profiling and interception in colorectal cancer: ASCEND-CRC program
cell.com/cancer-cell/fulltex…
@skopetz @KimmieNgMD @GIcancerDoc @aparna1024
Delighted to join Jean-Nicolas Vauthey and Pierre-Alain Clavien to chair the Colorectal Liver Metastasis Consensus Conference. Based on the Danish-Zurich model and led by international experts, this will establish guidelines for the treatment of CRC liver metastases. #crcsm
Tumor inflammation predicts better response to nivolumab alone in MSI-H CRC, while high mutational burden predicts benefit from nivolumab + ipilimumab. Our Nat Comm paper dives into CM142 and PD1 ± CTLA4 predictors with lead of @michael_overman. rdcu.be/eJHmS #crcsm
Need a primer about the exciting field of ctDNA defined minimal residual disease and genotyping? I had the pleasure of recording an overview of different uses of ctDNA testing for @Medscape Oncology. #crcmrd
medscape.com/viewarticle/col…
Shared some insights on #ctDNA’s power to guide clinical decisions in GI cancers—enabling precision treatment, improved surveillance, and earlier intervention for colorectal cancer patients. Excited by the field’s rapid progress towards personalized care!
onclive.com/view/advances-in…
Exciting science and clinical efficacy in this @MDAndersonNews team science study led by @VanMorrisMD In Cancer Cell.
Triple therapy with IO led to durable responses in BRAF V600E MSS colorectal cancer, showing promise. Randomized study ongoing. #crcsm
cell.com/cancer-cell/fulltex…
INTERCEPT MRD study: TAS-102 cleared ctDNA in 5/15 (33%) CRC pts with MRD at 6mo, vs 2/30 (7%) in controls, with median DFS to 9.4mo vs 5.8mo. Durable? @skopetz, @kanwal_Raghav, @ryanhuey, @christineparse1, @Moverman322, @PiaMorelli9, @adasarimd. #crcsm @MDAndersonNews
Targeting the YAP-SDC1 axis overcomes resistance to KRASi in GI cancers by blocking SDC1-driven macropinocytosis and RTK activation, offering a promising strategy for KRASi resistance. @wantong_yao @HaoqiangY @CellRepMed #crcsm To the clinic! pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/4071…
Important team finding: Fusions occur in 1.3% of mCRC w/ focused partner-agnostic ctDNA assay, but vast majority are subclonal after EGFRi and likely wouldn't provide meaningful benefit if targeted.
Keep hunting for the very rare clonal fusions for clinical benefit!
💥New paper out!
We reanalyzed raw sequencing data from 18,558 standard-of-care Guardant360 ctDNA assays in advanced #colorectalcancer using a partner-agnostic fusion caller.
🧬 Fusions in 1.3% of patients
🧪 93% were subclonal — enriched after EGFR therapy
🔗 Clonal fusions linked to MSI-H tumors
💡 Subclonal fusions may signal impending acquired resistance to targeted therapies like EGFR inhibitors — offering a window for earlier intervention.
📄rdcu.be/exqmR
Thanks to Andrew Pellatt for being a great co-fellow and letting me participate in this work along some of the defining leaders in CRC like @VanMorrisMD @skopetz @ryanhuey !
@GuardantHealth @TheGutOncLab @OncoAlert
Delighted to visit National Cancer Center Hospital East In Tokyo and connect with dear colleagues. Wonderful updates from SCRUM and MONSTAR program, led by @TakayukiYoshin5 and kindly hosted by Dr. Bando. Looking forward to more collaborations on MRD! #crcsm
Updated precemtabart tocentecan (M9140, CEACAM ADC) data in mCRC presented at ASCO '25: 31% response rate and mPFS of 6.9m in 100% irinotecan pretreated patients. ADCs can overcome TOP1 relative resistance. ascopubs.org/doi/10.1200/JCO… #crcsm
Precemtabart tocentecan, an anti-CEACAM5 ADC, is active in heavily pretreated metastatic colorectal cancer—median PFS is 6.9 months, and 72% disease control at 12 weeks. First CRC cohort reported in @NatureMedicine. #crcsm
A nice overview from our talented Dr Fangman and @kanwal_raghav. Worth a read for updates on the rapidly moving field.
Thank you for the opportunity to discuss this important topic in the treatment of patients with #CRC and thankful for the wonderful mentorship of @skopetz and @kanwal_raghav
A well laid out thread on barriers for PS trainees and the “cliff” after ending formal training, among other barriers. Really highlights the key issues.
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We are delighted to have you join GI Med Onc faculty at @MDAndersonNews and be able to continue the great work you have started with @ParseghianC and others!
🎉 Excited to stay on as Assistant Professor in GI Medical Oncology at @MDAndersonNews after graduation. Immensely grateful to my mentors & the support of my family and friends. Thankful to our patients and looking forward to working together to #EndCancer 🚀 #CRCSM #CCAhope
RT MDAndersonNews: Our experts will present their latest research at #ASCO23, including studies of acute lymphoblastic leukemia, KRAS G12C…