Recent advances in diagnosis and treatment for malignancies of the gastrointestinal tract.

Recent advances in diagnostic imaging have made it possible to detect early cancers in the gastrointestinal tract, while the development of novel antitumor agents has contributed to improved survival of patients with advanced cancers. In this review, the contents of the core symposia on 'Recent Advances in Diagnosis and Treatment for Malignancies of the Gastrointestinal Tract', held at the 6th and 7th annual meeting of The Japanese Gastroenterological Association, are summarized. At the 6th annual meeting the core symposium focused on 'Progress in Chemotherapy and Targeted Therapy for Gastrointestinal Malignancies'. On the other hand, the 7th annual meeting focused on 'Recent Advances in Diagnosis and Treatment for Esophageal Cancer'. Less invasiveness and multidisciplinary approach are the two major key words in the management of gastrointestinal malignancies. Efforts in translational research as well as in clinical studies will deliver less invasive and more effective treatment for gastrointestinal cancers.