Date and Time: Tuesday 10th February 2026, 13:30-16:30
Cost: £90
Format: Online
Description: In this half-day course, Dr Elaine Vickers provides an overview of the targeted therapies and immunotherapies given to some people with oesophageal, stomach, pancreatic or liver cancer, or cancers of the biliary system.
Elaine first looks briefly at the gene mutations and faulty processes and pathways that give rise to upper GI cancers and the factors that increase a person’s risk of these diseases.
She then turns her attention to the targeted treatments and immunotherapies that are relevant to oesophageal, gastroesophageal junction, stomach, biliary, liver, and pancreatic cancer.
Checkpoint inhibitor therapy is now used widely, but it isn’t useful against every form of cancer. Elaine looks at why this is the case and why it is largely ineffective against pancreatic cancer.
Elaine will also describe various treatments that target mutated proteins found in cancer cells, such as HER2, FGFR, and IDH1, and the progress made to date in targeting Claudin 18.2.
Lastly, Elaine will explain why pancreatic cancer is so difficult to treat and describe two promising strategies: personalised vaccines and Ras protein inhibitors.
Audience: This course is ideal for research nurses, clinical nurse specialists, pharmacists and clinical trials coordinators. It may also be of interest to other healthcare professionals involved in the diagnosis and treatment of people with upper GI cancers.
Link to Register: Targeted treatments and immunotherapy for Upper GI Cancers – Newcastle Hospitals Clinical Skills Academy