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Faculty

Samuel Klempner

MD
Associate Professor
Mass General Cancer Center

Dr. Klempner is a Associate Professor at Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School and leads the gastric and esophageal program. His clinical and translational research is centered on cancer genomics, acquired resistance to targeted therapies and the intersection of genomics and immune mediated therapies to identify novel therapeutic approaches and biomarkers in gastroesophageal cancers. He serves on the NRG non-colorectal committee, the NCI esophagogastric task force, and the NCCN guideline committees for gastric and esophageal cancers. His work is supported by Stand Up 2 Cancer, NCI/NIH, AACR, and he currently serves as the AGA Research Foundation’s Gastric Cancer Foundation Ben Feinstein Memorial Research Scholar Award in Gastric Cancer.

2026 Sessions

General Session

Optimizing Immunotherapy Sequencing in Gastroesophageal Malignancies: Neoadjuvant Chemo–IO vs Perioperative Chemo/RT Followed by Adjuvant Anti–PD-1

This discussion will compare strategies for sequencing immunotherapy in gastroesophageal malignancies, examining emerging clinical trial data, biologic rationale, and practical...

  • Moderator
    • Cathy Eng, MD, FACP, FASCO
    • Yelena Janjigian, MD
  • Presenter
    • Samuel Klempner, MD
    • Nataliya Uboha, MD, PhD
Gastrointestinal Cancers

Neoadjuvant Chemo–IO

This discussion will compare strategies for sequencing immunotherapy in gastroesophageal malignancies, examining emerging clinical trial data, biologic rationale, and practical considerations influencing treatment selection. Faculty will address potential impacts on pathologic response, survival outcomes, and toxicity, as well as provide their expert perspectives on integrating immunotherapy across the perioperative continuum of care.

This discussion will cover the biologic rationale and emerging clinical trial data supporting early integration of immunotherapy to enhance pathologic response and long-term outcomes. Faculty will address patient selection, safety considerations, and implications for surgical management, guiding learners on how neoadjuvant chemo-IO may reshape treatment paradigms in gastroesophageal cancer.

Presenter

Saturday, March 14 10:25–10:45 AM
Room Royal Ballroom 2
Gastrointestinal Cancers
Faculty

Nataliya Uboha

MD, PhD
Associate Professor
University of Wisconsin, Carbone Cancer Center

Nataliya V. Uboha, MD, PhD is a gastrointestinal (GI) medical oncologist and Associate Professor in the Department of Medicine, Division of Hematology and Oncology, at the University of Wisconsin–Madison School of Medicine and Public Health. She practices at the UW Carbone Cancer Center, where she serves as Associate Director of Clinical Research and leads the Early Phase Oncology Therapeutics (EPOT) Program, the institution’s largest and fastest-growing clinical trials program.

Dr. Uboha’s research focuses on the development and conduct of early-phase and biomarker-driven clinical trials for patients with gastroesophageal and pancreatobiliary malignancies. She has extensive experience as a principal investigator on investigator-initiated studies and as an institutional principal investigator for multiple NCI-sponsored and industry-supported trials, with particular expertise in precision oncology, novel targeted therapies, and immunotherapy combinations.

Nationally, Dr. Uboha is an active leader in cooperative group research, serving as Chair of the ECOG-ACRIN Upper GI Task Force and Co-Chair of the NCI Upper GI Task Force, and as an institutional principal investigator for the NCI UM1 ETCTN grant. She also contributes to national clinical practice standards through her involvement in NCCN and ASCO guideline development, helping to translate emerging clinical trial data into evidence-based recommendations for the management of GI malignancies.

Perioperative Chemo/RT Followed by Adjuvant Anti–PD-1

This discussion will compare strategies for sequencing immunotherapy in gastroesophageal malignancies, examining emerging clinical trial data, biologic rationale, and practical considerations influencing treatment selection. Faculty will address potential impacts on pathologic response, survival outcomes, and toxicity, as well as provide their expert perspectives on integrating immunotherapy across the perioperative continuum of care.

Faculty will review clinical trial evidence supporting the use of perioperative chemotherapy or chemoradiation followed by adjuvant anti-PD-1 therapy, including effects on recurrence risk and survival outcomes. The discussion will address timing of immunotherapy initiation, toxicity management, and patient populations most likely to benefit. Participants will gain insight on integrating adjuvant immunotherapy into established perioperative treatment frameworks.

Presenter

Saturday, March 14 10:45–11:05 AM
Room Royal Ballroom 2
Gastrointestinal Cancers
Faculty

Samuel Klempner

MD
Associate Professor
Mass General Cancer Center

Dr. Klempner is a Associate Professor at Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School and leads the gastric and esophageal program. His clinical and translational research is centered on cancer genomics, acquired resistance to targeted therapies and the intersection of genomics and immune mediated therapies to identify novel therapeutic approaches and biomarkers in gastroesophageal cancers. He serves on the NRG non-colorectal committee, the NCI esophagogastric task force, and the NCCN guideline committees for gastric and esophageal cancers. His work is supported by Stand Up 2 Cancer, NCI/NIH, AACR, and he currently serves as the AGA Research Foundation’s Gastric Cancer Foundation Ben Feinstein Memorial Research Scholar Award in Gastric Cancer.

Perioperative Chemo/RT Followed by Adjuvant Anti–PD-1

This discussion will compare strategies for sequencing immunotherapy in gastroesophageal malignancies, examining emerging clinical trial data, biologic rationale, and practical considerations influencing treatment selection. Faculty will address potential impacts on pathologic response, survival outcomes, and toxicity, as well as provide their expert perspectives on integrating immunotherapy across the perioperative continuum of care.

Faculty will review clinical trial evidence supporting the use of perioperative chemotherapy or chemoradiation followed by adjuvant anti-PD-1 therapy, including effects on recurrence risk and survival outcomes. The discussion will address timing of immunotherapy initiation, toxicity management, and patient populations most likely to benefit. Participants will gain insight on integrating adjuvant immunotherapy into established perioperative treatment frameworks.

Presenter

Saturday, March 14 10:45–11:05 AM
Room Royal Ballroom 2
Gastrointestinal Cancers
Faculty

Samuel Klempner

MD
Associate Professor
Mass General Cancer Center

Dr. Klempner is a Associate Professor at Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School and leads the gastric and esophageal program. His clinical and translational research is centered on cancer genomics, acquired resistance to targeted therapies and the intersection of genomics and immune mediated therapies to identify novel therapeutic approaches and biomarkers in gastroesophageal cancers. He serves on the NRG non-colorectal committee, the NCI esophagogastric task force, and the NCCN guideline committees for gastric and esophageal cancers. His work is supported by Stand Up 2 Cancer, NCI/NIH, AACR, and he currently serves as the AGA Research Foundation’s Gastric Cancer Foundation Ben Feinstein Memorial Research Scholar Award in Gastric Cancer.

Established HER2-Targeted Therapy

This session will examine first-line treatment strategies for HER2-positive gastroesophageal cancer, comparing established HER2-targeted regimens with emerging next-generation combinations. Faculty will review key clinical data, biomarker considerations, and mechanisms of resistance, while discussing practical factors that influence treatment selection and sequencing. Participants will gain insight into optimizing care in a rapidly evolving landscape.

This discussion will highlight established HER2-targeted regimens as the foundation of first-line treatment. Faculty will review pivotal data supporting chemotherapy plus trastuzumab-based approaches, with or without immunotherapy, focusing on survival outcomes, safety, and broad clinical applicability. Practical guidance on patient selection and toxicity management will be emphasized.

Debate Speaker

Saturday, September 26 10:05–10:25 AM
Gastrointestinal Cancers
Faculty

Samuel Klempner

MD
Associate Professor
Mass General Cancer Center

Dr. Klempner is a Associate Professor at Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School and leads the gastric and esophageal program. His clinical and translational research is centered on cancer genomics, acquired resistance to targeted therapies and the intersection of genomics and immune mediated therapies to identify novel therapeutic approaches and biomarkers in gastroesophageal cancers. He serves on the NRG non-colorectal committee, the NCI esophagogastric task force, and the NCCN guideline committees for gastric and esophageal cancers. His work is supported by Stand Up 2 Cancer, NCI/NIH, AACR, and he currently serves as the AGA Research Foundation’s Gastric Cancer Foundation Ben Feinstein Memorial Research Scholar Award in Gastric Cancer.
General Session

First-Line Management of HER2-Positive Gastroesophageal Cancer: Established HER2-Targeted Therapy vs Next-Generation HER2-Directed Combinations

This session will examine first-line treatment strategies for HER2-positive gastroesophageal cancer, comparing established HER2-targeted regimens with emerging next-generation...

  • Moderator
    • Cathy Eng, MD, FACP, FASCO
  • Presenter
    • Yelena Janjigian, MD
    • Samuel Klempner, MD
Gastrointestinal Cancers

Established HER2-Targeted Therapy

This session will examine first-line treatment strategies for HER2-positive gastroesophageal cancer, comparing established HER2-targeted regimens with emerging next-generation combinations. Faculty will review key clinical data, biomarker considerations, and mechanisms of resistance, while discussing practical factors that influence treatment selection and sequencing. Participants will gain insight into optimizing care in a rapidly evolving landscape.

This discussion will highlight established HER2-targeted regimens as the foundation of first-line treatment. Faculty will review pivotal data supporting chemotherapy plus trastuzumab-based approaches, with or without immunotherapy, focusing on survival outcomes, safety, and broad clinical applicability. Practical guidance on patient selection and toxicity management will be emphasized.

Debate Speaker

Saturday, September 26 10:05–10:25 AM
Gastrointestinal Cancers
Faculty

Samuel Klempner

MD
Associate Professor
Mass General Cancer Center

Dr. Klempner is a Associate Professor at Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School and leads the gastric and esophageal program. His clinical and translational research is centered on cancer genomics, acquired resistance to targeted therapies and the intersection of genomics and immune mediated therapies to identify novel therapeutic approaches and biomarkers in gastroesophageal cancers. He serves on the NRG non-colorectal committee, the NCI esophagogastric task force, and the NCCN guideline committees for gastric and esophageal cancers. His work is supported by Stand Up 2 Cancer, NCI/NIH, AACR, and he currently serves as the AGA Research Foundation’s Gastric Cancer Foundation Ben Feinstein Memorial Research Scholar Award in Gastric Cancer.

Next-Generation HER2-Directed Combinations

This session will examine first-line treatment strategies for HER2-positive gastroesophageal cancer, comparing established HER2-targeted regimens with emerging next-generation combinations. Faculty will review key clinical data, biomarker considerations, and mechanisms of resistance, while discussing practical factors that influence treatment selection and sequencing. Participants will gain insight into optimizing care in a rapidly evolving landscape.

This discussion will explore next-generation HER2-directed combinations in the first-line setting. Faculty will review emerging data on novel agents and combination strategies, focusing on improving response depth and durability. Key considerations include biologic rationale, resistance mechanisms, toxicity, and integration into clinical practice.

Presenter

Saturday, September 26 10:25–10:45 AM
Gastrointestinal Cancers
Co-Chair

Yelena Janjigian

MD
Chief, Gastrointestinal Oncology Service
Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center

Yelena Y. Janjigian, MD is a Professor and Chief of the Gastrointestinal Oncology Service, Carroll and Milton Petrie Chair at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center (MSK). A physician-scientist, leading translational research and clinical innovation to improve outcomes for patients with GI cancers.

Dr. Janjigian earned her BS from UC San Diego and MD from NYU School of Medicine, completing her residency at NYU/Bellevue and fellowship at MSK. Her research focuses on the molecular characterization of gastroesophageal cancers, driving therapeutic development and brining new drugs to the clinic. She has published over 140 papers in The New England Journal of Medicine, Journal of Clinical Oncology, Lancet Oncology, Lancet, and Nature, with more than 33,000 citations and an H-index of 61.

An elected member of the American Society for Clinical Investigation (ASCI), and Fellows of the American Society of Clinical Oncology (FASCO). Dr. Janjigian serves on the Board of Giants of Cancer Care, Debbie’s Dream Foundation and holds leadership roles in ASCO and AACR. She is also the Scientific Chair for ESMO 2026. Her research, funded by NIH, DOD and SU2C, has shaped new treatment standards in GI oncology.
Beyond research, she is a dedicated mentor, driving innovation and training the next generation of oncology leaders.
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