Meeting space has been assigned to provide a satellite symposium supported by Astellas and BeiGene Ltd during the Oncology Nursing Society’s (ONS) 50th Annual Congress, April 9-13, 2025 in Denver, Colorado. The Oncology Nursing Society’s assignment of meeting space does not imply product endorsement.

Program Schedule — Mountain Time
11:45 AM – 12:15 PM — Registration and Lunch
12:15 PM – 1:45 PM — Educational Meeting

MODULE 1: Current Use of Immune Checkpoint Inhibitors for Nonmetastatic Gastroesophageal Cancers

• Biological similarities and differences between gastric, gastroesophageal junction (GEJ) and esophageal cancers; impact of tumor location and histology on management
• Long-term outcomes achieved with historical management approaches for patients with localized/locally advanced gastroesophageal tumors
• Key efficacy and safety findings with adjuvant nivolumab for resected esophageal or GEJ cancer
• Appropriate selection of candidates for treatment with adjuvant nivolumab

MODULE 2: Potential Role of Anti-PD-1/PD-L1 Antibodies as Neoadjuvant or Perioperative Therapy for Patients with Gastric/GEJ Cancer

• Early data with immune checkpoint inhibitors as neoadjuvant therapy for resectable microsatellite instability-high/mismatch repair-deficient gastric/GEJ adenocarcinoma
• Rationale for the evaluation of anti-PD-1/PD-L1 antibodies administered perioperatively for resectable gastric/GEJ cancer
• Improvement in pathologic complete response rate observed with the addition of durvalumab to neoadjuvant FLOT in patients with resectable gastric/GEJ cancer
• Ongoing evaluation of perioperative durvalumab and potential clinical role of this strategy

MODULE 3: Incorporation of Immunotherapeutic Strategies for HER2-Negative Metastatic Gastroesophageal Tumors

• Published datasets with first-line nivolumab- and pembrolizumab-containing regimens for advanced gastric, GEJ and esophageal cancer
• FDA Oncologic Drugs Advisory Committee meeting recommending PD-L1 thresholds for the use of immune checkpoint inhibitors for previously untreated HER2-negative gastroesophageal cancers
• Evidence-based selection of chemotherapy alone versus combined chemoimmunotherapy versus dual immune checkpoint inhibition for newly diagnosed gastroesophageal tumors
• Key findings with tislelizumab in combination with chemotherapy for previously untreated gastroesophageal cancers and as second-line monotherapy for esophageal squamous cell carcinoma
• FDA approvals of tislelizumab monotherapy and in combination with chemotherapy for advanced gastroesophageal tumors; current clinical role in previously untreated and relapsed/refractory disease

MODULE 4: Tolerability and Other Practical Considerations with Immune Checkpoint Inhibitors

• Pathophysiology, spectrum, frequency, severity and timing of immune-mediated and other adverse events (AEs) observed with anti-PD-1/PD-L1 antibodies
• Impact on the tolerability of anti-PD-1/PD-L1 antibodies when administered in combination with other systemic therapies (eg, chemotherapy, anti-CTLA-4 antibodies)
• Monitoring and management paradigms for immune-related and other AEs with immune checkpoint inhibitors
• Optimal duration of immune checkpoint inhibition for nonmetastatic and metastatic gastroesophageal cancers

MODULE 5: Role of Therapy Targeting CLDN18.2 in Advanced Gastric/GEJ Adenocarcinoma

• Biological rationale for targeting CLDN18.2 in gastric/GEJ cancers; mechanism of antitumor activity of zolbetuximab
• Appropriate methods to assess CLDN18.2 status
• Published efficacy and safety findings with zolbetuximab in combination with chemotherapy as first-line therapy for patients with advanced CLDN18.2-positive gastric/GEJ cancer
• FDA approval of up-front zolbetuximab/chemotherapy for advanced CLDN18.2-positive gastric/GEJ cancer; implications for clinical practice

MODULE 6: Tolerability/Toxicity Profile of Zolbetuximab

• Rates of dose reductions, treatment interruption and treatment discontinuation in published clinical trials of up-front zolbetuximab/chemotherapy
• Incidence, severity and timing of nausea and vomiting observed with zolbetuximab in patients with and without prior gastrectomy
• Role of antiemetics and other supportive care measures for patients receiving zolbetuximab
• Spectrum, frequency and management of other toxicities reported with zolbetuximab

MODULE 7: Considerations in the Care of Patients with HER2-Positive Gastroesophageal Cancers

• Principal findings with the addition of pembrolizumab to chemotherapy/trastuzumab for previously untreated HER2-positive gastric/GEJ adenocarcinoma
• Impact of PD-L1 status on outcomes with the addition of pembrolizumab to up-front chemotherapy/trastuzumab and revised FDA indication
• Published data with trastuzumab deruxtecan (T-DXd) for progressive HER2-positive gastric/GEJ cancer
• Optimal integration of T-DXd into current management paradigms

MODULE 8: Incidence and Management of Toxicities with T-DXd

• Spectrum and incidence of common (eg, gastrointestinal [GI] toxicities, myelosuppression) and more serious (eg, interstitial lung disease [ILD], cardiac toxicities) treatment-emergent AEs observed with T-DXd
• Strategies to monitor for and manage T-DXd-associated ILD; indications for restarting T-DXd after resolution of symptoms
• Appropriate monitoring of complete blood counts and cardiac function during therapy with T-DXd
• Recommended algorithms for mitigating and managing cardiac toxicities, cytopenias, GI side effects and other complications from T-DXd

This activity has been designed to meet the educational needs of oncology nurses, nurse practitioners and clinical nurse specialists involved in the treatment of gastroesophageal cancers.

There is no registration fee for this event. For the in-person symposium in Denver, preregistration is required as seating is limited.

NOTICE:
Registration for this event is independent of registration for the 2025 ONS Congress.

To ensure seating and meal service, please check in at our onsite registration desk at least 15 minutes 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 are in need of assistance (ie, physical, dietary, et cetera), please contact us prior to the event at (800) 233-6153.