How does whole organ, cell, or molecular physiology interface with mechanisms, risk and prognosis of GI cancers? Mechanistic, interdisciplinary studies that combine molecular/cellular and animal models or animal models and translational approaches are encouraged. Physiology of the tumor microenvironment should also be considered as a topic for this call for papers. This call for papers recognizes that host physiology has major implications for susceptibility to Gastrointestinal Cancer and the mechanisms that allow precancerous or cancerous cells to survive and thrive. Physiological impactors may be hormonal, nutritional, behavioral, or environmental exposures. Similarly, efficacy of existing or chemopreventive and therapeutic approaches will be influenced by host physiology and in turn have short or long term effects on gastrointestinal function.