Research making a difference

Welcome to the SEGCG Research Hub.
We showcase our work in clinically relevant research in esophageal and gastric cancer, with a strong emphasis on Nordic multicenter collaboration. Our mission is to improve patient outcomes through high-quality research, innovation, and knowledge sharing.

How We Conduct Our Research

SEGCG conducts research that makes a real difference for patients with esophageal and gastric cancer. We focus on showcasing and supporting:

  • Prospective and randomized clinical trials
  • Multicenter cohort studies and registry-based research
  • Translational and biomarker-driven research

The scope of our research

Our research covers a broad range of clinical disciplines and patient perspectives, ensuring a comprehensive and holistic approach. This includes:

  • Research focused on surgery, medical oncology, and radiotherapy
  • Studies on quality of life, functional outcomes, and survival
  • Real-world data and health services research

Our overarching goal is to improve patient outcomes through high-quality collaborative research and shared expertise across the Nordic countries.

Collaboration and Future Perspectives

We want visitors to experience SEGCG as a platform for high-quality, collaborative, and clinically meaningful research, with the goal of improving outcomes for patients with esophageal and gastric cancer. Our work is evidence-based, internationally relevant, and driven by close multidisciplinary collaboration between surgeons, oncologists, radiologists, pathologists, and researchers across the Nordic countries. We invite you to be inspired to collaborate, contribute, and become part of a strong professional network focused on innovation and knowledge sharing.

This page is regularly updated by the SEGCG coordination team in close collaboration with principal investigators and national representatives. New studies, publications, and key milestones will be added continuously, and ongoing projects will be updated as they progress. Members are encouraged to submit updates, new project proposals, and publications to ensure that the page remains current, accurate, and clinically relevant.

Ongoing SEGCG trials

NEEDS (Ongoing)

  • Type: Randomized controlled trial (protocol published)

  • Focus: Esophageal squamous cell carcinoma

  • Aim: Neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy + surgery vs definitive chemoradiotherapy with salvage surgery as needed

  • PI: Magnus Nilsson

  • Protocol publication: Nilsson et al., Frontiers in Oncology, 2022

 

 

 

IPa-Gastric (Ongoing)

 

  • Type: Multicenter clinical trial

  • Focus: Gastric cancer with peritoneal metastasis

  • Aim: Intraperitoneal paclitaxel combined with systemic therapy

  • PIs: Magnus Nilsson; L. Liu Burström

  • Status note: Trial details to be added/updated

 

 

 

EPICURE (Starting soon)

 

  • Type: Prospective clinical study

  • Focus: Upper GI cancer

  • Location: Odense, Denmark

  • PI: J. Sandberg

  • Status: Starting soon (protocol details to follow)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Completed SEGCG trials

NeoRes (Completed)

  • Type: Randomized controlled trial (RCT)

  • Focus: Esophageal/GEJ cancer

  • Aim: Neoadjuvant chemotherapy vs neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy before surgery

  • PI: Magnus Nilsson

  • Key publications: Klevebro et al. (EJSO 2015; Ann Oncol 2016; Dis Esophagus 2019), Sunde et al. (BJS 2019), Lund et al. (EJA 2016)

 

 

 

 

NeoRes II (Completed)

  • Type: Multicenter RCT

  • Focus: Esophageal cancer

  • Aim: Standard vs prolonged time to surgery after neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy

  • PI: Magnus Nilsson

  • Key publications: Nilsson et al. (Ann Surg 2020; Ann Oncol 2023), Ericson et al. (EJSO 2025)

 

 

 

 

dCRT + Cetuximab Trial (Completed)

  • Type: Interventional trial

  • Focus: Esophageal cancer

  • Aim: Evaluate definitive chemoradiotherapy with cetuximab

  • PIs: Marianne Nordsmark; G. von Döbeln

 

 

 

 

PIPAC-OPC4 Study (Completed)

  • Type: Prospective feasibility/safety study

  • Focus: Gastric cancer at high risk of recurrence

  • Aim: D2 gastrectomy combined with PIPAC

  • PI: M. Mortensen (Odense)

  • Key publication: Graversen et al., Ann Surg Oncol 2023

Oligometastatic Disease Prospective Cohort Study (Completed)

  • Type: Prospective multicenter cohort
  • Focus: Oligometastatic gastroesophageal cancer
  • Aim: Outcomes after curative-intent treatment
  • PI: Fredrik Klevebro
  • Key publication: Noren et al., Langenbeck’s Arch Surg 2024

 

KiNETIC Trial

 

  • Type: Randomized controlled trial
  • Focus: Post-esophagectomy care
  • Aim: Nasogastric tube use after esophagectomy (leak risk/non-inferiority)
  • Key publications: Hedberg et al., Dis Esophagus 2024; Lancet Reg Health Europe 2025

 

INTENSE Trial (Completed – results pending)

 

  • Type: Phase II clinical study

  • Focus: Resectable gastric and GEJ adenocarcinoma

  • Aim: Perioperative FOLFOXIRI (4+4 cycles) to improve histopathological response

  • PI: David Borg

  • Status: Completed; analysis ongoing, manuscript in preparation