Program - ASCO Direct™

Schedule

Agenda 2026

ASCO Direct GI Symposium 2026 | Scientific Program

ASCO Direct GI Symposium 2026 | Scientific Program
Day 1 | Saturday | 14th March 2026 | Nashik
Time Duration Topic Faculty
Day 1| Workshop | Workshop on Robotic GI Oncosurgery
Chairpersons: Dr Pramod Premchand Shinde
9:00 AM - 9:20 AM 20 Min Introduction to Robotic GI Surgery
Fundamentals of Robotic Surgery (FRS) | Human Factors: Situational Awareness in robotic or Errors & Violations		 Speaker:
Dr Vijaykumar
9:20 AM - 9:40 AM 20 Min Non-Technical Skills
Team Training Workshop | Simulation Team Training		 Speaker:
Dr Ganesh Gorthi
9:40 AM - 10:00 AM 20 Min Robot Setup & Configuration
Start up and calibration | Docking sequence, Instrumentation | Types of retractors and retractor setting | Patient cart positioning, port placement | Troubleshooting		 Speaker:
Sukanya Puruma
10:00 AM - 10:20 AM 20 Min Technical Skills
Dry lab (skill development model) | Retractor setting on Mannequin | Simulation Skill Development		 Speaker:
Dr Shyam Mohan (SO) ©
10:20 AM - 10:30 AM 10 Min Tea
10:30 AM - 12:45 PM 135 min Simulation Workshop
Track 1: Intuitive, Track 2: CMR		 Session Lead for Intuitive: Dr Shyam Mohan
Session Lead for CMR: Dr Raj Nagarkar (SO)
12:45 PM - 1:15 PM 30 min QA | Assessments | Panel Discussion Session Lead
1:15 PM - 1:45 PM 30 Min Lunch
Day 1| Surgical Oncology Symposium | Key advances GI Oncosurgery
Chairpersons: Dr Raj Nagarkar
1:45 PM - 2:05 PM 20 min Keynote Talk : Changing FACE and PHASE of therapeutic strategies in Gastrointestinal Malignancies an update – 2026. Speaker
Dr Gopinath KS
2:05 PM - 2:25 PM 20 min Minimally Invasive Techniques: Advancements in laparoscopic surgery Speaker: Dr Shishir Shetty (SO) ©
2:25 PM - 2:45 PM 20 min Precision and Personalized Medicine: Emerging techniques to personalize surgery to individual patients. Role of Genomics in surgery. Surgical Risk and Prognosis stratification. Speaker: Dr Nilesh Patil (SO)
2:45 PM - 3:05 PM 20 min Multimodal and Combination Therapies: Interpley of surgery with novel IO and TT agents for certain metastatic colorectal cancers and newer surgical options for neuroendocrine tumors. Wait and watch strategies Speaker: Dr Jyoti Bajpai (MO)
3:05 PM - 3:10 PM 05 min Tea
3:10 PM - 3:30 PM 20 min Locoregional Treatments: Evolving strategies for advanced or metastatic disease, including cytoreductive surgery combined with hyperthermic intraperitoneal chemotherapy (HIPEC). Speaker: Dr. Ninad Katdare
3:30 PM - 3:50 PM 20 min Improved Perioperative and Postoperative Care: The use of enhanced recovery after surgery (ERAS) protocols and a focus on patient-centered outcomes. Speaker: Dr Balaji Ramani (SO)
3:50 PM - 4:10 PM 20 min Newer approaches to Organ Preservation: Spincter Preserving Surgeries in Rectal Cancers Speaker: Dr Akash Dhuru (SO)
4:10 PM - 4:30 PM 20 min AI based advances Spincter Preserving Surgeries in Rectal Cancers Speaker: Dr Akash Dhuru (SO)
Moderators Panelists
4:30 PM - 5:00 PM 30 min Plenary & Panel Discussion: AI replaces surgeons? Lap vs Robotic? Improved operability vs Neoadjuvant? Moderator: Dr Raj Nagarkar
Panelist: Dr Avinash Gaikwad (SO)
Special Dinner Symposium
7:15 PM - 7:45 PM 30 min Topic: Each cancer is a data warehouse, each patient is a source of insight Speaker: Dr Raj Nagarkar
7:15 PM - 7:30 PM 15 min Panel Discussion Panelists
7:30 PM - 9:30 PM 120 min Dinner
ASCO Direct GI Symposium 2026 | Scientific Program
Day 2 | Sunday | 15th March 2026 | Nashik
Time Duration Topic Faculty
Day 2| Workshop | Highlights from ASCO GastroIntestinal Symposium 2026
Chairperson: Dr Gopinath K S (MO)
9:00 AM - 9:20 AM 20 min Invited Talk Topic: Managing CRCs with precision medicine (TBC) Speaker: Dr Govind Babu (MO)
Session 1 | Esophago-Gastric Tumors Chairperson: Dr Govind Babu (MO)
9:20 AM - 10:00 AM 40 Min Adjuvant oxaliplatin with S-1 (SOX) versus S-1 in patients with stage II-III gastric or gastro-oesophageal junction adenocarcinoma (CAPITAL): A randomised, open-label, phase 3 trial Speaker:
Dr Neelam Singh (MO)
Zolbetuximab + pembrolizumab and chemotherapy as first-line treatment for patients with CLDN18.2-positive, HER2-negative, PD-L1-positive locally advanced unresectable or metastatic G/GEJ adenocarcinoma: Phase 3, double-blind, randomized trial (LUCERNA) Speaker:
Dr Darshana Rane (MO)
An open-label, randomized, multicenter, phase 3 study of trastuzumab deruxtecan (T-DXd) + chemotherapy (chemo) ± pembrolizumab (pembro) versus chemo + trastuzumab ± pembro in first-line metastatic HER2+ gastric or gastroesophageal junction (GEJ) cancer: DESTINY-Gastric05 Speaker:
Dr Gayatri Raheja (MO)
Analysis of 5-fluorouracil, leucovorin, oxaliplatin, and docetaxel (FLOT) administration in MATTERHORN: A randomized, phase 3 study of durvalumab (D) plus FLOT in resectable gastric/gastroesophageal junction (G/GEJ) adenocarcinoma Speaker:
Dr Chandrashekhar Pethe
Zanidatamab + chemotherapy (CT) ± tislelizumab for first-line (1L) HER2-positive (HER2+) locally advanced, unresectable, or metastatic gastroesophageal adenocarcinoma (mGEA): Primary analysis from HERIZON-GEA01 Speaker:
Dr Aditya Dhanawat (MO)
Randomized controlled phase II trial comparing nivolumab, ipilimumab plus radiotherapy versus nivolumab plus ipilimumab for metastatic or recurrent esophageal cancer: Japan Clinical Oncology Group study JCOG2311 (ART NOUVEAU) Speaker:
Dr Mukesh Choudhari (MO) ©
Moderators: Dr Suresh Babu (MO) Panelists
10:00 AM - 10:30 AM 30 min Panel Discussion Dr Kirthi Koushik (RO) ©
Dr Deepanjali Patel (RO)
Dr Srinivas BJ (MO)
Dr Avinash Gaikwad (SO)
11:45 AM - 12:05 PM 20 Min Chairperson: Dr Raj Nagarkar
10:30 AM - 11:15 AM 45 Min Keynote Conversation Topic: Genomics in GI Tumors Moderator: Dr Omshree Shetty Expert Comments: Dr Jyoti Bajpai (MO), Ms Sindhura (Gen), Dr Priyank Tripathi (CP)
11:15 AM - 11:30 AM 15 min Inauguration, Welcome Remarks, Industry Introductions Organizing Committee, Scientific Committee, Sponsors
Session 2 | Pancreatic Tumors Chairperson: Dr Govind Babu (MO)
11:30 AM - 12:10 PM 40 min (Abs 675) Impact of response to gemcitabine-based neoadjuvant therapy on the outcomes of gemcitabine plus nabpaclitaxel after recurrence in pancreatic cancer. J Clin Oncol 44, 2026 (suppl 2; abstr 675) Speaker:
Dr Siddharth Turkar (MO)
(Abs 711) Preoperative NALIRIFOX versus upfront surgery in high-risk resectable pancreatic cancer: A randomized, multi-center trial. J Clin Oncol 44, 2026 (suppl 2; abstr 711) Speaker:
Dr Pinaki Mahato (MO) ©
(Abs 734) Evaluation of modified gemcitabine/nab-paclitaxel schedules in first line therapy for advanced pancreatic cancer: MI-OPTS-2 study. J Clin Oncol 44, 2026 (suppl 2; abstr 734) Speaker:
Dr Nishitha Shetty (MO)
(Abs 765) Impact of Ca19-9 reduction on resectability and survival in pancreatic cancer patients following neoadjuvant or conversion chemotherapy. J Clin Oncol 44, 2026 (suppl 2; abstr 765) Speaker:
Dr Lovin Wilson (MO) ©
(ABS 731) Continuous, maintenance or intermittent first line (1L) therapy for advanced pancreatic cancer (aPC): MI-OPTS-1 study. J Clin Oncol 44, 2026 (suppl 2; abstr 731) Speaker:
Dr Prabhat Bhargava (MO)
Moderators: Dr Govind Babu (MO) Panelists
12:10 PM - 12:40 PM 30 min Panel Discussion Dr Deepanjali Patel (RO) ©
Dr Shishir Shetty (SO) ©
Dr Amrita Srivastava (RO)
12:40 PM - 1:00 PM 20 min Industry Talk: Advanced Electrosurgical Units Dr Raj Nagarkar
1:00 PM 1:20 PM 20 Min Lunch
Session 3 | Hepatocellular Carcinoma Chairperson: Dr Indushekhar Subbanna (IR)
1:20 PM - 2:05 PM 45 Min (Abs 516) Bevacizumab-atezolizumab (B-A), durvalumab-tremelimumab (D-T) and lenvatinib (L) in advanced hepatocellular carcinoma patient therapy: An efficacy comparison study based on real-world evidence. J Clin Oncol 44, 2026 (suppl 2; abstr 516). Speaker:
Dr Srinivas BJ (MO)
Abs 541 Safety outcomes with tremelimumab (T) rechallenge in the phase 3 HIMALAYA study of T plus durvalumab (D) in unresectable hepatocellular carcinoma. J Clin Oncol 44, 2026 (suppl 2; abstr 541) Speaker:
Dr Siddharth Lath (MO)
(Abs 554) A phase II randomized study of atezolizumab plus multikinase inhibitor (MKI) versus MKI alone in patients with advanced hepatocellular carcinoma previously treated with atezolizumab plus bevacizumab (Atezo/Bev). J Clin Oncol 44, 2026 (suppl 2; abstr 554). Speaker:
Dr Shantanu Kukarni (MO)
(Abs 495) Reevaluating complete response: Assessing whether imaging alone is sufficient to predict survival after transarterial radioembolization in hepatocellular carcinoma. J Clin Oncol 44, 2026 (suppl 2; abstr 495) Speaker:
Dr Aman Sondoule (MO)
(Abs 542) Differential efficacy of immunotherapy in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) based on etiology: A systematic review and meta-analysis in viral vs. non-viral HCC. J Clin Oncol 44, 2026 (suppl 2; abstr 542) Speaker:
Dr Sanjay Ahire (MO)
(Abs 539) Optimizing the sequencing and timing of transarterial chemoembolization and systemic therapy in advanced hepatocellular carcinoma Speaker:
Dr Amogh Anvekar (IR)
(Abs 540) Sequential transarterial chemoembolization and stereotactic body radiotherapy followed by immunotherapy using single tremelimumab regular interval durvalumab in locally advanced, unresectable HCC (START-FIT using STRIDE): A single-arm, phase II, multi-centre study Speaker:
Dr Amol Ratnakar Bhalekar (IR)
(Abs 506) Transarterial chemoembolization (TACE) combined with sintilimab and bevacizumab versus TACE alone in patients with Barcelona Clinic Liver Cancer stage B unresectable hepatocellular carcinoma: A retrospective, propensity score-matched analysis Speaker:
Dr Ajit Patil (IR)
2:05 PM - 2:15 PM 10 min Expert Comments Speaker Dr Indushekhar Subbanna (IR) ©
Moderators: Dr Anbarasan Sekhar (MO) Panelists
2:15 PM - 2:45 PM 30 min Panel Discussion Dr Vikas Kothavade (RO) ©
Dr Akash Dhuru (SO)
Chairpersons: (MO)
2:45 PM - 3:05 PM 20 min Invited Talk Topic: Wait and watch strategies for CRC Speaker: Dr Sachin Trivedi (MO)
Session 4 | CRC Tumors Chairperson:
Dr Sachin Hingmare (MO)
3:05 PM - 3:30 PM 20 Min (Abs 13 )BREAKWATER: Primary analysis of first-line (1L) encorafenib + cetuximab (EC) + FOLFIRI in BRAF V600E-mutant metastatic colorectal cancer (mCRC) Speaker:
Dr Sonal Dhande (MO)
(Abs 17)FOxTROT: Predictive effects of ERBB2 and ERBB3 on neoadjuvant panitumumab benefit in RAS/BRAF wild-type locally advanced colon cancer (LACC) Speaker:
Dr Sanjay Agarwal (MO)
(Abs TPS260)Combining low-dose regorafenib with pembrolizumab for patients with MSI-H colorectal cancer: REGPEMCRC-01- HCRN GI23-643 Speaker:
Dr Shruti Kate (MO)
(Abs TPS265) A phase 2 randomized study comparing telisotuzumab adizutecan monotherapy with standard of care in patients with post-adjuvant circulating tumor DNA-positive colorectal cancer Speaker:
Dr Sandeep Ishi (MO)
3:30 PM - 3:40 PM 10 min (Abs 119) Industry Talk: Neoadjuvant chemotherapy and serplulimab in MSS/pMMR locally advanced rectal cancer (FIRM): a phase II trial Speaker: Dr Mukul Gharote
3:40 PM - 3:50 PM 10 min (P147) Industry Talk: Neoadjuvant short-course radiotherapy combined with CAPOX and PD-1 inhibitor for MSS/pMMR high-risk locally advanced colon cancer: A randomized, prospective, multicentre, phase II trial (TORCH-C) Speaker: Dr Kiran Kumar Matta
Moderator: Dr Sachin Trivedi (MO) Panelists
3:50 PM - 4:10 PM 20 Min Panel Discussion Dr Trinanjan Basu (RO)
Dr Sulabhchandra Bhamare (SO)
4:10 PM - 4:15 PM 05 min Closing Remarks, Vote of Thanks and Group Photo Organizing Committee

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