At the Latin American Symposium on Gastrointestinal Oncology (SLAGO), Dr. Jorge Gallardo, its president, presented the main therapeutic, surgical, and multidisciplinary advances that marked the event's agenda, with a special focus on gastric, colorectal, pancreatic, and esophageal cancer, as well as the challenges of clinical adoption in Latin America. In an exclusive interview with LaSalud.mx/Oncologia.mx, Dr. Gallardo noted that the symposium left clear messages: immunotherapy continues to expand its impact, surgery and radiotherapy are being redefined in specific scenarios, and patient selection has become an ethical and clinical imperative amid rising costs and incremental benefits. Immunotherapy in Gastric Cancer: Encouraging Signals, Necessary Caution. One of the most relevant axes was the combination of chemotherapy with the anti-PD-L1 monoclonal antibody toripalimab in gastric cancer. The key, Gallardo concluded, lies in interpreting the evidence, selecting rigorously, and adapting responsibly to maximize the real benefit for patients in our region. Pancreatic Cancer: Electric Fields, an Emerging Pathway. An advance that captured attention was a therapy based on electric fields for locally advanced pancreatic cancer, recently approved by the FDA. Cross-Cutting Findings: From Simple to Complex. Among the messages with practical impact were: Dual immunotherapy in metastatic colorectal cancer with microsatellite instability. Adjuvant aspirin after colon cancer surgery in patients with a specific mutation, a low-cost intervention with prognostic benefit. These results reinforce the need to discuss cost-effectiveness and prioritization in systems with finite resources. Multidisciplinarity and the Immediate Future. Gallardo anticipated that these debates will be taken up at SLAGO, where topics such as observation vs. surgery after complete clinical response in esophageal cancer, robotic surgery—with the participation of Dr. Medrano from Mexico—and personalized strategies will occupy a central place.
Key Advances in Gastrointestinal Oncology at SLAGO 2026
Dr. Jorge Gallardo, president of the Latin American Symposium on Gastrointestinal Oncology (SLAGO), summarized key therapeutic, surgical, and multidisciplinary advances in gastric, colorectal, pancreatic, and esophageal cancer. Special focus was given to immunotherapy, personalized treatment approaches, and the challenges of implementing new methods in Latin American clinical practice.
