Meeting the moment: ASCO GI Cancers Symposium delivers insights and collaboration

When it comes to fighting cancer today, collaboration is key. At a time when funding is uncertain, yet innovative breakthroughs are accelerating every day, it’s more important than ever for oncologists, scientists, academic researchers, and community physicians, to come together to share knowledge and gain insights about the forefront of cancer research.

And that’s what is on tap at the upcoming 2026 Gastrointestinal Cancers Symposium (GI26), hosted by the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO). Scheduled for Jan. 8 to 10, 2026, in San Francisco, this multidisciplinary event is bringing together a diverse array of experts — medical and radiation oncologists, surgeons, radiologists, lab scientists, patient advocates, and more — to share insights, learn from one another, and brainstorm around today’s challenges of care.

“This is my absolute favorite meeting of the year,” said Dr. Mary Feng, Vice Chair of Radiation Oncology at the University of California, San Francisco, and Program Committee Chair for GI26. “This symposium combines great scientific talks with accessibility to experts, where academics and community physicians can meet and collaborate without barriers. There’s always such a strong energy here.”

This year’s event is earlier than previous years, and early registration discounts expire Dec. 3. Visit gi.asco.org to learn more and secure your spot.

The future of patient care

In the world of gastrointestinal cancers, there are few other times and places where professionals in the field can gather to learn about new tools, novel therapies, or unique challenges presented by complex GI cancers. With an abundance of meeting spaces and opportunities to build community, attendees have the chance to connect with world-class experts in a friendly and congenial environment.

This year’s symposium is themed “Meeting the Moment: Cancer Research Shaping the Future of Patient Care” and will feature special, cross-cutting intersections sessions that look beyond the particulars of GI cancer to investigate the rise in early-onset cancers and the long-term side effects of care.

“A 20-year-old patient might have another 60 years of life, so what do we need to think about when caring for this person?” Dr. Feng asked.

Other special session themes will explore the role of AI in medicine and cutting-edge therapies in phase 1 and phase 2 clinical trials. “AI in healthcare is a different beast than it is in business,” Dr. Feng said. “So many business vendors think it’s a simple add-on to what we do, but hospitals have to carefully assess what AI systems successfully help treat patients versus those which do not live up to the promise.”

She noted that clinical trials are an interesting area for AI informatics because many physicians lack the necessary time to evaluate a patient for a particular trial. How can AI best automate the process to find particular candidates?

Collaboration from bench to bedside

The keynote for GI26 will be delivered by Dr. Kimryn Rathmell, former director of the National Cancer Institute and now CEO of The Ohio State University Comprehensive Cancer Center – James Cancer Hospital and Solove Research Institute. Dr. Rathmell will be speaking on “The Role of Dyad Partnerships in Oncology” — a reflection on how to connect research in academia with practitioners in the field.

“Partnership” is a keyword for GI26, with professionals coming together across disciplines to think outside the box for patient care, find their peers from around the world, and re-energize themselves for the year ahead.

“We’re in a unique moment,” Dr. Feng said. “We’re seeing an erosion in trust and uncertainty around funding at the political level, which couldn’t have come at a worse time. The challenge for all of us is: How do we move forward and not lose time in the fight against cancer?”

The good news is that now is such an exciting time for cancer research. Dr. Feng observed that 10 years ago, you might see a new advance every year or two, followed by long dry spells. Now, there are so many advances on the near horizon that we are on the verge of astronomical progress in the fight against cancer.

From spontaneous conversations over coffee to abstract presentations on the latest clinical trial results, GI26 is poised to deliver another world-class experience.