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Midhun Malla

MD, MS
Associate Professor
University of Alabama

Dr. Midhun Malla, MD, MS, is an Associate Professor of Medicine at the Heersink School of Medicine and serves as Section Chief of Gastrointestinal Medical Oncology at the O’Neal Comprehensive Cancer Center at the University of Alabama at Birmingham. Dr. Malla completed his fellowship training at the University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center in Oklahoma City, where he also earned a Master’s degree in Clinical and Translational Sciences. His work is focused on advancing the role of ctDNA in precision oncology, helping to drive innovations in cancer detection and treatment. His clinical and research focus centers on hepatobiliary and colorectal cancers, with a particular emphasis on biomarker-driven clinical trials. He leads multiple prospective investigator-initiated clinical trials aimed at personalizing treatment approaches and improving outcomes for patients with Gastroiintestinal malignancies.

2026 Sessions

General Session

Is There a Role for Adjuvant HAI Following Liver Resection vs Adjuvant Chemotherapy?: Yes vs No

Explore postoperative treatment strategies following liver resection, comparing the role of adjuvant hepatic arterial infusion (HAI) therapy with systemic adjuvant chemotherapy...

  • Moderator
    • Cathy Eng, MD, FACP, FASCO
    • Yelena Janjigian, MD
  • Presenter
    • Midhun Malla, MD, MS
    • Nipun Merchant, MD, FACS, FSSO
Gastrointestinal Cancers

Yes

Explore postoperative treatment strategies following liver resection, comparing the role of adjuvant hepatic arterial infusion (HAI) therapy with systemic adjuvant chemotherapy. Faculty will examine available evidence on recurrence risk reduction, survival outcomes, and toxicity profiles associated with each approach. The discussion will address practical considerations influencing treatment choice and provide new insight into whether adjuvant HAI offers added benefit over standard systemic chemotherapy.

Adjuvant HAI therapy has a meaningful role following liver resection compared with adjuvant systemic chemotherapy alone. Faculty will review clinical evidence demonstrating improved hepatic disease control and survival outcomes with HAI in selected patients, guiding learners through scenarios in which adjuvant HAI may optimize outcomes.

Presenter

Saturday, March 14 2:10–2:30 PM
Room Royal Ballroom 2
Gastrointestinal Cancers

Nipun Merchant

MD, FACS, FSSO
Professor of Surgery
University of Miami

Dr. Nipun B. Merchant, M.D. holds the Alan S. Livingstone Endowed Chair in Surgical Oncology and is a tenured Professor of Surgery, Vice Chair of Surgical Oncology Services and Chief of the Division of Surgical Oncology in the Department of Surgery at University of Miami Miller School of Medicine. At the Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center, he is the Chief Surgical Officer, the founding Director of the Sylvester Pancreas Cancer Research Institute, and served as the Associate Director of Translational Research.
Dr. Merchant has more than 25 years of leadership experience in basic, translational and clinical research and is an internationally recognized hepatobiliary and pancreatic surgical oncologist. He has served on the Pancreas Task Force of the GI Steering Committee of the NCI, the Commission on Cancer, the National Comprehensive Cancer Network (NCCN) Pancreatic Adenocarcinoma Panel and the Board of Governors of the American College of Surgeons and Chaired of the Health Policy and Advisory Group of that organization.
Simultaneously, Dr. Merchant runs a translational research program investigating the role of the tumor-stromal-immune microenvironment in overcoming therapeutic resistance in pancreatic cancer, which has been continuously funded by the NIH for the last 18 years. His laboratory has also translated this work directly into novel therapeutic clinical trials in patients. He is also the PI of a T32 training grant in Surgical Oncology and is the author of over 225 peer reviewed publications, 10 chapters and he has edited two books.

No

Explore postoperative treatment strategies following liver resection, comparing the role of adjuvant hepatic arterial infusion (HAI) therapy with systemic adjuvant chemotherapy. Faculty will examine available evidence on recurrence risk reduction, survival outcomes, and toxicity profiles associated with each approach. The discussion will address practical considerations influencing treatment choice and provide new insight into whether adjuvant HAI offers added benefit over standard systemic chemotherapy.

Faculty will review limitations of the available evidence for adjuvant HAI therapy after liver resection, including lack of randomized data, toxicity concerns, and challenges related to access and expertise. This discussion will address whether modern systemic therapies can provide comparable benefit without the added complexity of HAI.

Presenter

Saturday, March 14 2:30–2:50 PM
Room Royal Ballroom 2
Gastrointestinal Cancers

Midhun Malla

MD, MS
Associate Professor
University of Alabama

Dr. Midhun Malla, MD, MS, is an Associate Professor of Medicine at the Heersink School of Medicine and serves as Section Chief of Gastrointestinal Medical Oncology at the O’Neal Comprehensive Cancer Center at the University of Alabama at Birmingham. Dr. Malla completed his fellowship training at the University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center in Oklahoma City, where he also earned a Master’s degree in Clinical and Translational Sciences. His work is focused on advancing the role of ctDNA in precision oncology, helping to drive innovations in cancer detection and treatment. His clinical and research focus centers on hepatobiliary and colorectal cancers, with a particular emphasis on biomarker-driven clinical trials. He leads multiple prospective investigator-initiated clinical trials aimed at personalizing treatment approaches and improving outcomes for patients with Gastroiintestinal malignancies.

No

Explore postoperative treatment strategies following liver resection, comparing the role of adjuvant hepatic arterial infusion (HAI) therapy with systemic adjuvant chemotherapy. Faculty will examine available evidence on recurrence risk reduction, survival outcomes, and toxicity profiles associated with each approach. The discussion will address practical considerations influencing treatment choice and provide new insight into whether adjuvant HAI offers added benefit over standard systemic chemotherapy.

Faculty will review limitations of the available evidence for adjuvant HAI therapy after liver resection, including lack of randomized data, toxicity concerns, and challenges related to access and expertise. This discussion will address whether modern systemic therapies can provide comparable benefit without the added complexity of HAI.

Presenter

Saturday, March 14 2:30–2:50 PM
Room Royal Ballroom 2
Gastrointestinal Cancers

Midhun Malla

MD, MS
Associate Professor
University of Alabama

Dr. Midhun Malla, MD, MS, is an Associate Professor of Medicine at the Heersink School of Medicine and serves as Section Chief of Gastrointestinal Medical Oncology at the O’Neal Comprehensive Cancer Center at the University of Alabama at Birmingham. Dr. Malla completed his fellowship training at the University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center in Oklahoma City, where he also earned a Master’s degree in Clinical and Translational Sciences. His work is focused on advancing the role of ctDNA in precision oncology, helping to drive innovations in cancer detection and treatment. His clinical and research focus centers on hepatobiliary and colorectal cancers, with a particular emphasis on biomarker-driven clinical trials. He leads multiple prospective investigator-initiated clinical trials aimed at personalizing treatment approaches and improving outcomes for patients with Gastroiintestinal malignancies.

Yes

Faculty will review emerging clinical and translational data targeting KRAS and related pathways, including efficacy signals, resistance mechanisms, and safety considerations, in the treatment of pancreatic cancer. They will discuss patient selection, biomarker testing, and how these agents may integrate with existing treatment regimens, providing perspective on the readiness of RAS inhibitors to move from investigational use to routine clinical application.

This session will cover emerging clinical trial data demonstrating meaningful activity of KRAS- and RAS-targeted agents in biomarker-selected populations. The speaker will address advances in drug development, safety profiles, and integration with existing chemotherapy backbones. Participants will gain insight into how RAS inhibitors may be incorporated into routine management of pancreatic cancer.

Presenter

Sunday, March 15 2:10–2:30 PM
Room Royal Ballroom 2
Gastrointestinal Cancers

Midhun Malla

MD, MS
Associate Professor
University of Alabama

Dr. Midhun Malla, MD, MS, is an Associate Professor of Medicine at the Heersink School of Medicine and serves as Section Chief of Gastrointestinal Medical Oncology at the O’Neal Comprehensive Cancer Center at the University of Alabama at Birmingham. Dr. Malla completed his fellowship training at the University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center in Oklahoma City, where he also earned a Master’s degree in Clinical and Translational Sciences. His work is focused on advancing the role of ctDNA in precision oncology, helping to drive innovations in cancer detection and treatment. His clinical and research focus centers on hepatobiliary and colorectal cancers, with a particular emphasis on biomarker-driven clinical trials. He leads multiple prospective investigator-initiated clinical trials aimed at personalizing treatment approaches and improving outcomes for patients with Gastroiintestinal malignancies.
General Session

Are RAS Inhibitors Ready for Prime Time Use as a Standard of Care in Pancreatic Cancer?: Yes vs No

Faculty will review emerging clinical and translational data targeting KRAS and related pathways, including efficacy signals, resistance mechanisms, and safety considerations, in...

  • Moderator
    • Cathy Eng, MD, FACP, FASCO
    • Yelena Janjigian, MD
  • Presenter
    • Midhun Malla, MD, MS
    • Shubham Pant, MD
Gastrointestinal Cancers

Yes

Faculty will review emerging clinical and translational data targeting KRAS and related pathways, including efficacy signals, resistance mechanisms, and safety considerations, in the treatment of pancreatic cancer. They will discuss patient selection, biomarker testing, and how these agents may integrate with existing treatment regimens, providing perspective on the readiness of RAS inhibitors to move from investigational use to routine clinical application.

This session will cover emerging clinical trial data demonstrating meaningful activity of KRAS- and RAS-targeted agents in biomarker-selected populations. The speaker will address advances in drug development, safety profiles, and integration with existing chemotherapy backbones. Participants will gain insight into how RAS inhibitors may be incorporated into routine management of pancreatic cancer.

Presenter

Sunday, March 15 2:10–2:30 PM
Room Royal Ballroom 2
Gastrointestinal Cancers

Midhun Malla

MD, MS
Associate Professor
University of Alabama

Dr. Midhun Malla, MD, MS, is an Associate Professor of Medicine at the Heersink School of Medicine and serves as Section Chief of Gastrointestinal Medical Oncology at the O’Neal Comprehensive Cancer Center at the University of Alabama at Birmingham. Dr. Malla completed his fellowship training at the University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center in Oklahoma City, where he also earned a Master’s degree in Clinical and Translational Sciences. His work is focused on advancing the role of ctDNA in precision oncology, helping to drive innovations in cancer detection and treatment. His clinical and research focus centers on hepatobiliary and colorectal cancers, with a particular emphasis on biomarker-driven clinical trials. He leads multiple prospective investigator-initiated clinical trials aimed at personalizing treatment approaches and improving outcomes for patients with Gastroiintestinal malignancies.

No

Faculty will review emerging clinical and translational data targeting KRAS and related pathways, including efficacy signals, resistance mechanisms, and safety considerations, in the treatment of pancreatic cancer. They will discuss patient selection, biomarker testing, and how these agents may integrate with existing treatment regimens, providing perspective on the readiness of RAS inhibitors to move from investigational use to routine clinical application.

Modest efficacy signals, narrow biomarker applicability, and emerging resistance mechanisms represent real concerns in the discussion of RAS inhibitor use in pancreatic cancer. Faculty will discuss safety concerns, durability of response, and unanswered questions regarding optimal sequencing and combinations to inform learners on why RAS inhibitors remain best positioned within clinical trials rather than routine practice at this time.

Presenter

Sunday, March 15 2:30–2:50 PM
Room Royal Ballroom 2
Gastrointestinal Cancers

Shubham Pant

MD
Professor
The University of Texas at MD Anderson Cancer Center

Dr. Shubham Pant is a Professor in the Department of Gastrointestinal Medical Oncology with a joint appointment in the Department of Investigational Cancer Therapeutics at The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center in Houston, Texas. Dr. Pant is a key opinion leader in the fields of GI Cancers including pancreatic, biliary, gall bladder and Phase 1 trials. He also serves as the Director of Clinical Research and Associate Director for Early Phase Drug Development at the Sheikh Ahmed Bin Zayed Center. He has an expertise in Targeted therapy and Immunotherapy and has co-authored more than 100 peer-review articles and has presented research in national and international meetings including ASCO, AACR and ESMO.
Dr. Pant completed his fellowship from the James Cancer Hospital/Solove Research Institute at the Ohio State University where he was elected Chief Fellow. He has previously served as the Director of Clinical Trials, Section of Hematology/Oncology and was recipient of the Mai Eager Anderson Endowed Chair in Cancer Clinical Trials at the University Of Oklahoma.
He has been the recipient of ASCO/AACR Workshop Methods in Clinical Cancer Research and was selected for the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) Leadership Development Program. He has served as a member on the ASCO Annual Meeting Educational Committee (GI-Non Colorectal Track) and is a member of the ASCO Gastrointestinal Guidelines Committee. He has a keen interest in Global Health and held a grant through the Global Academic Program to study Gall Bladder Cancer in India and Chile.
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