Thursday, January 8, 2026, San Francisco, California, 7:15 PM – 8:45 PM Pacific Time (10:15 PM – 11:45 PM Eastern Time)

Expert Second Opinion: Optimizing the Use of Immunotherapy, MRD Assessment and Other Novel Approaches for Patients with Localized Colorectal Cancer

A CME Symposium Held Adjunct to the 2026 ASCO® Gastrointestinal Cancers Symposium

Register for in-person Register for webcast

 

Program Schedule — Pacific Time
7:00 PM – 7:15 PM — Registration
7:15 PM – 8:45 PM — Educational Dinner Meeting

Location
San Francisco Marriott Marquis
780 Mission Street
San Francisco, California
Hotel Phone: (415) 896-1600

Meeting Room
Golden Gate Ballroom — Salon B (B2 Level)

No registration fee is charged for this event. For the in-person symposium in San Francisco, preregistration is required as seating is limited.  
 
Faculty
Stacey A Cohen, MD 
Professor
Fred Hutchinson Cancer Center 
University of Washington
Seattle, Washington

Jenny Seligmann, MBChB, PhD
Professor of Gastrointestinal Cancer
University of Leeds
Leeds, United Kingdom
Moderator
Christopher Lieu, MD
Professor of Medicine
Associate Director for Clinical Research
Director, GI Medical Oncology
University of Colorado Cancer Center
Aurora, Colorado



This activity is supported by educational grants from Genentech, a member of the Roche Group, GSK, and Natera Inc.

Not an official event of the 2026 ASCO® Gastrointestinal Cancers Symposium. Not sponsored, endorsed, or accredited by ASCO®, Association for Clinical Oncology, or Conquer Cancer®, the ASCO Foundation.
Program Schedule — Pacific Time
7:00 PM – 7:15 PM — Registration
7:15 PM – 8:45 PM — Educational Dinner Meeting

MODULE 1: Neoadjuvant Treatment for Localized Colorectal Cancer (CRC)

  • Current role of neoadjuvant systemic treatment in localized or locally advanced rectal and colon tumors; historical outcomes achieved with chemotherapy and chemoradiation therapy for patients with microsatellite instability-high (MSI-H)/mismatch-repair deficient (dMMR) disease
  • Updated results with dostarlimab as an alternative to surgery for dMMR locally advanced rectal cancer; implications for organ preservation
  • FDA breakthrough therapy designation for dostarlimab for the treatment of locally advanced MSI-H/dMMR rectal cancer; ongoing evaluation in the registrational Phase II AZUR-1 trial
  • Early-phase data with neoadjuvant anti-PD-1/PD-L1 antibodies alone or in combination with other immunotherapies for patients with nonmetastatic dMMR/MSI-H colon cancer; ongoing Phase III AZUR-2 study of perioperative dostarlimab for this population
  • Biological rationale for and ongoing studies investigating immune checkpoint inhibition in the preoperative setting for localized microsatellite-stable/mismatch repair-proficient CRC
  • Guideline-recommended current use and future role of immunotherapy in the neoadjuvant setting for nonmetastatic CRC

MODULE 2: Emerging Novel Approaches to Adjuvant Treatment for Localized CRC

  • Historical outcomes achieved with standard adjuvant chemotherapy for patients with localized CRC, including for those with MSI-H/dMMR disease
  • Design, eligibility criteria and key endpoints of the Phase III Alliance A021502/ATOMIC trial assessing atezolizumab in combination with mFOLFOX6 and continued as monotherapy in the adjuvant setting for patients with Stage III CRC and dMMR tumors
  • Recently presented efficacy and safety data with the addition of atezolizumab to adjuvant chemotherapy in ATOMIC
  • Potential role of atezolizumab in the adjuvant setting for patients with nonmetastatic MSI-H/dMMR CRC
  • Other ongoing trials evaluating immune checkpoint inhibitors as a component of adjuvant therapy for localized CRC

MODULE 3: Role of Circulating Tumor DNA (ctDNA) Testing in Localized CRC

  • Rationale for the investigation of ctDNA-based molecular residual disease (MRD) monitoring in localized CRC
  • Published datasets, such as those from the CIRCULATE-Japan and BESPOKE CRC trials, evaluating the use of ctDNA testing to identify patients at increased risk of recurrence
  • Recent findings from various studies, such as DYNAMIC, CALGB/SWOG-80702, ALTAIR and ALASCCA, attempting to validate the use of ctDNA testing in predicting benefit from adjuvant treatment regimens
  • Ongoing Phase III trials examining the clinical utility of ctDNA-based MRD testing for guiding treatment decision-making in localized CRC
  • Current and future role of ctDNA testing in localized/locally advanced CRC
  • Future directions in ctDNA testing, such as tissue-free assays, for patients with CRC

Target Audience
This activity is intended for medical oncologists, hematology-oncology fellows, surgeons and other healthcare providers involved in the treatment of colorectal cancer (CRC).

Learning Objectives
Upon completion of this activity, participants should be able to

  • Understand the incidence and prognostic and clinical relevance of microsatellite instability (MSI)/mismatch repair (MMR) deficiency in patients with localized CRC, and consider the implications for molecular testing and care.
  • Evaluate the biological rationale for the use of immune checkpoint inhibitors in the care of patients with localized MSI-high (MSI-H)/MMR-deficient (dMMR) CRC, and provide counsel regarding available clinical evidence and guideline-endorsed treatment recommendations.
  • Optimize the current and future use of neoadjuvant therapy for patients with localized and locally advanced CRC, considering the influence of various clinical and biological factors, including MSI-H/dMMR status.
  • Appreciate published research documenting the efficacy and safety of anti-PD-1/PD-L1 antibody therapy added to standard adjuvant chemotherapy for Stage III MSI-H/dMMR colon cancer, and counsel patients regarding the potential role of this novel therapeutic approach.
  • Recognize the clinical relevance of circulating tumor DNA (ctDNA) as a prognostic and predictive biomarker in CRC, and comprehend the rationale for its use in detecting molecular residual disease in patients with this disease.
  • Appreciate published datasets documenting the clinical utility of ctDNA testing in risk stratification, surveillance and treatment decision-making for patients with CRC, and consider the current and future role of this strategy in personalizing treatment recommendations.
  • Recall ongoing trials evaluating novel agents and strategies for patients with nonmetastatic CRC, and use this information to refer candidates for study participation.

CME Credit Form
A CME credit link will be given to each participant as part of the meeting course materials.

Accreditation Statement
Research To Practice is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education (ACCME) to provide continuing medical education for physicians.

Credit Designation Statement
Research To Practice designates this live activity for a maximum of 1.5 AMA PRA Category 1 Credits™. Physicians should claim only the credit commensurate with the extent of their participation in the activity.

Privacy Policy
Personal information and data sharing: Research To Practice aggregates deidentified user data for program-use analysis, program development, activity planning and site improvement. We may provide aggregate and deidentified data to third parties, including commercial supporters. We do not share or sell personally identifiable information to any unaffiliated third parties or commercial supporters. Please see our privacy policy at ResearchToPractice.com/Privacy-Policy for more information.

Unlabeled/Unapproved Uses Notice
This educational activity may contain discussion of published and/or investigational uses of agents that are not indicated by the Food and Drug Administration. Research To Practice does not recommend the use of any agent outside of the labeled indications. Please refer to the official prescribing information for each product for discussion of approved indications, contraindications and warnings. The opinions expressed are those of the presenters and are not to be construed as those of the provider or grantors.

Content Validation and Disclosures
Research To Practice (RTP) is committed to providing its participants with high-quality, unbiased and state-of-the-art education and adheres to the ACCME’s Standards for Integrity and Independence in Accredited Continuing Education. Any individuals in a position to control the content of an accredited continuing education activity, including faculty, planners, reviewers and others, are required to disclose all relevant financial relationships with ineligible entities (commercial interests). All relevant conflicts of interest will have been mitigated prior to the commencement of this activity. In addition, all activity content is reviewed by RTP scientific staff and an external, independent physician reviewer for fair balance, scientific objectivity of studies referenced and patient care recommendations.

FACULTY — Dr Seligmann has no relevant conflicts of interest to disclose. The following faculty reported relevant financial relationships with ineligible entities:

Dr Cohen — Advisory Committees: AbbVie Inc, Agenus Inc, Caris Life Sciences, DoMore Diagnostics, Exact Sciences Corporation, Guardant Health, Incyte Corporation, Janssen Biotech Inc, Merck, Pfizer Inc, Roche Laboratories Inc; Data and Safety Monitoring Boards/Committees: GSK.

MODERATOR — Dr Lieu — Consulting Agreements (to Institution): Pfizer Inc; Contracted Research (All to Institution): Genentech, a member of the Roche Group, Janssen Biotech Inc, Sanofi.

EDITOR — Dr Love is president and CEO of Research To Practice. Research To Practice receives funds in the form of educational grants to develop CME activities from the following companies: Aadi Bioscience, AbbVie Inc, ADC Therapeutics, Agendia Inc, Alexion Pharmaceuticals, Amgen Inc, Array BioPharma Inc, a subsidiary of Pfizer Inc, Arvinas, Astellas, AstraZeneca Pharmaceuticals LP, Aveo Pharmaceuticals, Bayer HealthCare Pharmaceuticals, BeOne, Biotheranostics Inc, A Hologic Company, Black Diamond Therapeutics Inc, Blueprint Medicines, Boehringer Ingelheim Pharmaceuticals Inc, Bristol Myers Squibb, Celcuity, Clovis Oncology, Coherus BioSciences, Corcept Therapeutics Inc, CTI BioPharma, a Sobi Company, Daiichi Sankyo Inc, Eisai Inc, Elevation Oncology Inc, Exact Sciences Corporation, Exelixis Inc, Genentech, a member of the Roche Group, Genmab US Inc, Geron Corporation, Gilead Sciences Inc, GSK, Helsinn Therapeutics (US) Inc, ImmunoGen Inc, Incyte Corporation, Ipsen Biopharmaceuticals Inc, Jazz Pharmaceuticals Inc, Johnson & Johnson, Karyopharm Therapeutics, Kite, A Gilead Company, Kura Oncology, Legend Biotech, Lilly, MEI Pharma Inc, Merck, Mersana Therapeutics Inc, Mirati Therapeutics Inc, Mural Oncology Inc, Natera Inc, Novartis, Novartis Pharmaceuticals Corporation on behalf of Advanced Accelerator Applications, Novocure Inc, Nuvalent, Nuvation Bio Inc, Pfizer Inc, Pharmacyclics LLC, an AbbVie Company, Puma Biotechnology Inc, Regeneron Pharmaceuticals Inc, Rigel Pharmaceuticals Inc, R-Pharm US, Sanofi, Seagen Inc, Servier Pharmaceuticals LLC, SpringWorks Therapeutics Inc, Stemline Therapeutics Inc, Sumitomo Pharma America, Syndax Pharmaceuticals, Taiho Oncology Inc, Takeda Pharmaceuticals USA Inc, TerSera Therapeutics LLC, and Tesaro, A GSK Company.

RESEARCH TO PRACTICE CME PLANNING COMMITTEE MEMBERS, STAFF AND REVIEWERS
Planners, scientific staff and independent reviewers for Research To Practice have no relevant conflicts of interest to disclose.

Supporters
This activity is supported by educational grants from Genentech, a member of the Roche Group, GSK, and Natera Inc.

San Francisco Marriott Marquis
780 Mission Street
San Francisco, CA 94103
Hotel Phone: (415) 896-1600

Meeting Room
Golden Gate Ballroom — Salon B (B2 Level)

Directions
The San Francisco Marriott Marquis is located just 2 blocks (less than 0.2 miles) from the Moscone Center, where the 2026 ASCO Gastrointestinal Cancers Symposium is taking place.

 
This activity is intended for medical oncologists, hematology-oncology fellows, surgeons and other healthcare providers involved in the treatment of colorectal cancer.

No registration fee is charged for this event. For the in-person symposium in San Francisco, preregistration is required as seating is limited.

NOTICE
Registration for this event is independent of registration for the 2026 ASCO Gastrointestinal Cancers Symposium.

IN-PERSON Registration
Thank you for your interest in our CME program. At this time online preregistration is closed for this event. SEATS ARE STILL AVAILABLE FOR THIS SESSION. Our onsite registration desk will be open at 7:00 PM PT on Thursday, January 8th. If you are interested in attending, please visit our registration desk outside the Golden Gate Ballroom — Salon B (B2 Level) — at the San Francisco Marriott Marquis hotel, 780 Mission Street, within walking distance (2 blocks) of the Moscone Convention Center. Please note: Seats will be offered on a first come, first served basis after prioritizing for clinicians in practice, and onsite registration does not guarantee participation in the meal service.

If you have any questions, please feel free to contact us via email at Meetings@ResearchToPractice.com, or call (800) 233-6153.

NOTICE:
Registration for this event is independent of registration for the 2026 ASCO Gastrointestinal Cancers Symposium.
WEBCAST registration for all professionals

Please note, we will stream this event over Zoom. After registering you will receive a separate confirmation from Zoom with the viewing instructions.

REGISTRATION FOR WEBCAST »
Registration for groups
If you are registering a group (more than 1 person) for this event, please contact us at Meetings@ResearchToPractice.com or (800) 233-6153.
To ensure seating and meal service, please check in at our onsite registration desk before the start of the meeting. We cannot guarantee seating after the start of the program.

Photography and/or video recording may be taken during the educational program by Research To Practice and used in future educational offerings.

Research To Practice fully complies with the legal requirements of the ADA. If you require any physical, dietary or other accommodations, please call us at (800) 233-6153 before the event.

If you have any questions, please feel free to contact us via email at Meetings@ResearchToPractice.com, or call (800) 233-6153.

Not an official event of the 2026 ASCO® Gastrointestinal Cancers Symposium. Not sponsored, endorsed, or accredited by ASCO®, Association for Clinical Oncology, or Conquer Cancer®, the ASCO Foundation.