Join Dr. Paresh Patel and Dr. Masoumeh Ghayouri for a crucial conversation on the complexities of HER2 testing in Gastrointestinal (GI) cancers, including Gastroesophageal Adenocarcinoma (GEA) and Biliary Tract Cancer (BTC).

HER2 status is essential for accessing targeted treatments, but its interpretation in GI cancers is unique and challenging. This episode dives into:

• GI vs. Breast Guidelines: Understanding the critical differences in interpreting HER2 Immunohistochemistry (IHC) results, including scoring criteria, membrane staining requirements, and tissue sampling specifics (e.g., cohesive cell clusters in biopsies).
• Testing Rationale and Methods: Why first-line HER2 testing is now standard for BTC and GEA, and the advantages of using Next-Generation Sequencing (NGS) to assess multiple biomarkers simultaneously alongside IHC and ISH.
• The Power of Collaboration: The vital need for oncologists and pathologists to work closely together to ensure accurate tissue sampling, correct test interpretation, and ultimately, determine patient eligibility for life-prolonging HER2-targeted medications.

Gain insights into best practices that are necessary to overcome challenges like intratumoral heterogeneity and ensure high-quality biomarker testing for GI cancer patients.