Gastrointestinal Steering Committee

The NCI Gastrointestinal Intergroup was the first disease-specific group to transition into a Disease-Specific Steering Committee (DSSC) as the Gastrointestinal Steering Committee (GISC). This transition occurred in January 2006. The GISC is currently composed of the Steering Committee and seven specific disease-site task forces. Members of the GISC include all Cooperative Group gastrointestinal disease committee chairs, representatives from Specialized Programs of Research Excellence (SPOREs), Cancer Center and R01/P01 investigators along with community oncologists, biostatistician(s), patient advocates and NCI staff.

Mission Statement

The GISC functions to harmonize an efficient, cost-effective, science-driven, and transparent process that will identify and promote the "Best Science" in gastrointestinal cancer clinical research by addressing the design and prioritization of phase III trials in gastrointestinal cancer and large phase II studies.

Roster of Gastrointestinal Steering Committee (GISC) members
Dan Haller, M.D. and Joel Tepper, M.D., Co-chairs

Task Forces

• Colon Cancer: Neal Meropol, M.D., Chair and Axel Grothey, M.D., Vice Chair
• Esophago-Gastric Cancer: David Ilson, M.D., Ph.D., Chair and Lawrence Kleinberg, M.D., Vice Chair
• Gastrointestinal Stromal Tumors: Charles Blanke, M.D., Chair
• Hepatobiliary Cancer: Alan Venook, M.D., Chair and Michael Choti , M.D., M.B.A. , Vice Chair
• Neuroendocrine Cancer: Lillian Siu, M.D., Chair and James Yao, M.D., Vice Chair
• Pancreatic Cancer: Jordan Berlin, M.D., Chair and Andrew Lowy, M.D., Vice Chair
• Rectal/Anal Cancer: Elin Sigurdson, M.D., Ph.D., Chair and Bruce Minsky, M.D., Vice Chair

Clinical Trial Planning Meetings

• Gastrointestinal Stromal Tumors Clinical Trials Planning Meeting (April 16, 2009) (PDF, 23 kb)
• State of the Science Meeting in Hepatocellular Carcinoma (HCC) (Dec 12-13, 2008) (PDF, 67 kb)
• State of the Clinical Science Meeting in Pancreatic Cancer (Nov 30 - Dec 1, 2007)

Active Protocols

• ACOSOG Z6051: Phase III Randomized Study of Laparoscopic-Assisted Resection Versus Open Resection in Patients With Stage IIA, IIIA, or IIIB Rectal Cancer
  Activation Date: 08/15/08
  
• RTOG-0436: Phase III Randomized Study of Chemoradiotherapy Comprising Paclitaxel, Cisplatin, and Radiotherapy With Versus Without Cetuximab in Patients With Locally Advanced Esophageal Cancer
  Activation Date: 06/30/08

To search all active clinical trials, go to: http://www.cancer.gov/clinicaltrials/search

CCCT Contact: Deborah Jaffe, Ph.D.