Houston Methodist The Annual HMNCC GI Oncology Summit 2025

The HMNCC GI Oncology Summit reviews gastrointestinal and hepatobiliary cancers through a multidisciplinary lens. Presented by Houston Methodist Dr. Mary and Ron Neal Cancer Center, the December 5, 2025 hybrid meeting brought together oncology, hepatology, gastroenterology, transplant, surgery, and radiation specialists. The curriculum spans liver and biliary cancers, pancreatic cancer, colorectal and appendiceal disease, and gastroesophageal malignancies. It emphasizes screening, molecular diagnostics, immunotherapy, targeted treatments, transplant oncology, and evolving procedural approaches. The program is relevant to clinicians and trainees who want to understand how disease-specific advances influence coordinated cancer care, from risk assessment and early detection to treatment of advanced disease.

Learning Objectives

• Describe the epidemiology, risk factors, and prevention strategies for gastrointestinal cancers.
• Review the pathogenesis, surveillance modalities, and underuse of screening for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), focusing on blood-based biomarkers and management of pre-liver cancer diseases.
• Evaluate transplant-bridging approaches and the role of immunotherapy in both resectable and advanced hepatocellular carcinoma, as well as new developments in treating advanced cholangiocarcinoma.
• Assess updates on operative strategies for early-stage hepatobiliary cancers and transplant oncology for hilar and intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma.
• Explain the latest advancements in molecular diagnostics, operative and perioperative approaches, and targeted therapies for pancreatic adenocarcinoma, low-/intermediate-grade neuroendocrine carcinoma, and colorectal cancers.
• Discuss advancements in multidisciplinary approaches for managing esophageal and gastric cancers, as well as the role of precision medicine in unresectable gastrointestinal malignancies.

The original meeting was held at John F. Bookout Auditorium, Houston Methodist Research Institute, with virtual participation, from 7:30 AM–3:30 PM CST. It listed up to 5.25 AMA PRA Category 1 Credits and 5.25 nursing contact hours; these do not accompany store files. The listed topics do not independently establish individual recording coverage.

Topics

• Genomic-Driven Precision Oncology in Colorectal Cancer – 2025 Therapeutic Frontiers

• Immunotherapy for MSS/pMMR Colorectal Cancer in 2025

• Advances in Resectable Gastroesophageal Cancers – Precision Approaches for 2025

• Immunotherapy and Biomarker Innovations for Unresectable Gastroesophageal Adenocarcinoma

• Novel Targets and Future Therapies in Gastroesophageal Adenocarcinoma

• Appendiceal Adenocarcinoma – Advances in Diagnosis and Therapeutic Strategies

• AI-Enabled Early Detection and Risk Stratification for Pancreatic Cancer

• Transplant Oncology for Cholangiocarcinoma – Genomic-Guided Strategies for 2025

• Immunotherapy Landscape for MSI-H/dMMR Colorectal Cancer – What’s New and What’s Next

• Precision Oncology and Immunotherapy in Cholangiocarcinoma

• Overview of Key TNT Rectal Cancer Trials and Considerations for Radiation Treatment

• Targeted Therapies for Pancreatic Cancer – Biomarker-Driven Advances

• Robotic Surgery for Early Stage Hepatobiliary Cancer

• Precision Management of Cirrhosis-Associated HCC – Novel Hepatologist Strategies for 2025

• Transforming Pre-Liver Cancer Management – Strategies for Reducing or Eliminating Liver Cancer

• Immunotherapy 2.0 – Novel Combinations and Biomarkers for HCC in 2025

• Next Generation HCC Screening – Liquid Biopsies and Hepatologist-Driven AI Models

• Hepatocellular Carcinoma – Have We Seen the Worst of It

Course Leadership

Chair

Maen Abdelrahim, MD, PhD, PharmD

Course Director

Jian Guan, MD

Director, Scientific Planning Committee

Abdullah Esmail, MD

Faculty

• Pierre M. Gholam, MD, FAASLD, AGAF
• Nicole Rich, MD, MS
• Joseph S. Galati, MD
• Sudha Kodali, MD
• Bandar Al-Judaibi, MBBS, MHM, FACP, FRCPC
• Maen Abdelrahim, MD, PhD, PharmD
• Sukeshi Patel Arora, MD
• Milind Javle, MD
• Flavio G. Rocha, MD, FACS, FSSO
• Aiwu Ruth He, MD, PhD
• Mohammed Alghamdi, MD, MBA
• Ashish Saharia, MD, FACS
• Kevin Tran, MD
• Joshua C. Coursey, MD
• Fahad Ibnshamsah, MD
• Arvind N. Dasari, MD, MS
• Anthony B. El-Khoueiry, MD
• John Paul Y.C. Shen, MD
• Anwaar Saeed, MD
• Moh’d Khushman, MD
• Monisha Singh, MD