Advanced Gastric Adenocarcinoma Research Articles

68Ga-FAPI-04 positron emission tomography/CT and laparoscopy for the diagnosis of occult peritoneal metastasis in newly diagnosed locally advanced gastric cancer: study protocol of a single-centre prospective cohort study

IntroductionAccurate baseline clinical staging is critical to inform treatment decision-making for patients with gastric cancers. Peritoneal metastasis (PM) is the most common form of metastasis in gastric cancer and mainly...

Effect of anti-claudin 18.2 monoclonal antibody zolbetuximab alone or combined with chemotherapy or programmed cell death-1 blockade in syngeneic and xenograft gastric cancer models

The development of targeted cancer therapies based on monoclonal antibodies against tumor-associated antigens has progressed markedly over recent decades. This approach is dependent on the identification of tumor-specific, normal tissue-sparing antigenic targets. The transmembrane protein claudin-18 splice variant 2 (CLDN18.2) is frequently and preferentially displayed on the surface of primary gastric adenocarcinomas, making it a promising monoclonal antibody target. Phase 3 studies of zolbetuximab, a chimeric immunoglobulin G1 monoclonal antibody targeting CLDN18.2, combined with 5-fluorouracil/leucovorin plus oxaliplatin (modified FOLFOX6) or capecitabine plus oxaliplatin (CAPOX) in advanced or metastatic first-line gastric or gastroesophageal junction (G/GEJ) adenocarcinoma have demonstrated favorable clinical results with zolbetuximab. In studies using xenograft or syngeneic models with gastric cancer cell lines, zolbetuximab mediated death of CLDN18.2-positive human cancer cell lines via antibody-dependent cellular cytotoxicity and complement-dependent cytotoxicity in vitro and demonstrated anti-tumor efficacy as monotherapy and combined with chemotherapy in vivo. Mice treated with zolbetuximab plus chemotherapy displayed a significantly higher frequency of tumor-infiltrating CD8+ T cells versus vehicle/isotype control-treated mice. Furthermore, zolbetuximab combined with an anti-mouse programmed cell death-1 antibody more potently inhibited tumor growth compared with either agent alone. These results support the potential of zolbetuximab as a novel treatment option for G/GEJ adenocarcinoma.

Neoadjuvant chemoimmunotherapy in locally advanced gastric or gastroesophageal junction adenocarcinoma.

Patients suffering from locally advanced gastric or gastroesophageal junction adenocarcinoma often face a high postoperative recurrence rate. Despite aggressive treatment, less than 50% survive beyond five years. Ongoing clinical studies are exploring ways to prolong patient survival, revealing that perioperative chemotherapy can extend both the period of recurrence-free survival and overall survival for this group of patients. Currently, combining chemotherapy and immune checkpoint inhibitors has become a critical treatment approach for advanced gastric or gastroesophageal junction adenocarcinoma. However, the effectiveness of this approach in locally advanced patients remains unverified. This article delves into the latest research concerning the use of perioperative chemotherapy coupled with immune checkpoint inhibitors in locally advanced gastric or gastroesophageal junction adenocarcinoma treatment, and highlights prospective challenges and discusses how to best identify patients who may benefit from combined chemotherapy and immune checkpoint inhibitor therapy.

Abstract LB417: Leveraging advanced human lung models to explore mechanisms underlying T-DXd-associated interstitial lung disease (ILD)

Abstract Trastuzumab deruxtecan (T-DXd) is a HER2-directed antibody-drug conjugate approved for several indications, including HER2-positive unresectable or metastatic breast cancer that progressed on two or more prior therapies, HER2-positive locally advanced or metastatic gastric or gastroesophageal junction adenocarcinoma who have received a prior trastuzumab-based regimen and HER2-mutant unresectable or metastatic non-small cell lung cancer (USPI-ENH-C9-1122-r006). While the safety profile of T-DXd is manageable, ILD is an important identified risk and considered as an Adverse Event (AE) of special interest (Powell et al ESMO Open 2022). The therapeutic options for patients that develop ILD are limited to steroid medications, including prednisone and methylprednisolone. Hence, a greater understanding of T-DXd-associated ILD pathophysiology has the potential to guide alternative interventions to prevent ILD progression and improve patient care. Here, we used advanced human lung models to explore if T-DXd can affect pulmonary epithelial cell homeostasis and function. Transcriptome and gene set enrichment analysis of bronchial epithelial cells cultured under air-liquid interface (ALI) conditions revealed that genes and pathways associated with senescence, inflammation, and barrier integrity were dysregulated upon treatment with T-DXd. These transcriptomic findings linked to senescence and inflammation were confirmed in follow-up ALI experiments where T-DXd was shown to activate the p53 pathway, and upregulate pro-senescence, -inflammatory and -fibrotic mediators. Similarly, T-DXd activated senescence- and inflammation-associated markers in a microphysiological alveolar lung-on-chip system, thus indicating that T-DXd has similar effects in alveoli epithelia. In addition, T-DXd induced epithelial injury of ALI cells, which was reflected by loss of barrier function and release of epithelial damage markers. These changes were also accompanied by upregulation of mesenchymal cell markers, suggesting cells transition to a partial epithelial-to-mesenchymal phenotype. Whereas the payload (deruxtecan; DXd) and IgG control antibody-DXd conjugate (IgG-DXd) could recapitulate effects measured with T-DXd on lung epithelial cells, trastuzumab did not have any effect, suggesting limited contribution of HER2 targeting to T-DXd-induced epithelial changes in the experimental models used. Altogether, these data demonstrate that DXd can drive epithelial mechanisms and pathways associated with pulmonary fibrosis, inflammation, and damage, which are dysregulated events observed in ILD. Ongoing studies aim to evaluate the translation of these discoveries to the clinic and to support the development of novel therapeutic strategies to manage or prevent ILD. Citation Format: Ingrid Lua, Lin Jia, Jeff Chen, Kevin Contrepois, Mary McFarlane, Anton I. Rosenbaum, Peter Newham, Sonia Terrillon. Leveraging advanced human lung models to explore mechanisms underlying T-DXd-associated interstitial lung disease (ILD) [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the American Association for Cancer Research Annual Meeting 2024; Part 2 (Late-Breaking, Clinical Trial, and Invited Abstracts); 2024 Apr 5-10; San Diego, CA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2024;84(7_Suppl):Abstract nr LB417.

FOLFIRI Plus Durvalumab With or Without Tremelimumab in Second-Line Treatment of Advanced Gastric or Gastroesophageal Junction Adenocarcinoma

Efficacy of second-line chemotherapy in advanced gastric or gastrooesphageal junction (GEJ) adenocarcinoma remains limited. To determine the efficacy of 1 or 2 immune checkpoint inhibitors combined with FOLFIRI (leucovorin [folinic acid], fluorouracil, and irinotecan) in the treatment of advanced gastric/GEJ adenocarcinoma. The PRODIGE 59-FFCD 1707-DURIGAST trial is a randomized, multicenter, noncomparative, phase 2 trial, conducted from August 27, 2020, and June 4, 2021, at 37 centers in France that included patients with advanced gastric/GEJ adenocarcinoma who had disease progression after platinum-based first-line chemotherapy. Patients were randomized to receive FOLFIRI plus durvalumab (anti-programmed cell death 1 [PD-L1]) (FD arm) or FOLFIRI plus durvalumab and tremelimumab (anti-cytotoxic T-lymphocyte associated protein 4 [CTLA-4]) (FDT arm). The efficacy analyses used a clinical cutoff date of January 9, 2023. The primary end point was progression-free survival (PFS) at 4 months according to RECIST 1.1 criteria evaluated by investigators. Overall, between August 27, 2020, and June 4, 2021, 96 patients were randomized (48 in each arm). The median age was 59.7 years, 28 patients (30.4%) were women and 49 (53.3%) had GEJ tumors. Four month PFS was 44.7% (90% CI, 32.3-57.7) and 55.6% (90% CI, 42.3-68.3) in the FD and FDT arms, respectively. The primary end point was not met. Median PFS was 3.8 and 5.4 months, objective response rates were 34.7% and 37.7%, and median overall survival was 13.2 and 9.5 months in the FD and FDT arms, respectively. Disease control beyond 1 year was 14.9% in the FD arm and 24.4% in the FDT arm. Grade 3 to 4 treatment-related adverse events were observed in 22 (47.8%) patients in each arm. A combined positive score (CPS) PD-L1 of 5 or higher was observed in 18 tumors (34.0%) and a tumor proportion score (TPS) PD-L1 of 1% or higher in 13 tumors (24.5%). Median PFS according to CPS PD-L1 was similar (3.6 months for PD-L1 CPS ≥5 vs 5.4 months for PD-L1 CPS <5) by contrast for TPS PD-L1 (6.0 months for PD-L1 TPS ≥1% vs 3.8 months for PD-L1 TPS <1%). Combination of immune checkpoint inhibitors with FOLFIRI in second-line treatment for advanced gastric/GEJ adenocarcinoma showed an acceptable safety profile but antitumor activity only in a subgroup of patients. ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT03959293.

Advanced gastric and oesogastric junction adenocarcinomas: What’s new in first-line treatment?

Advanced gastric and oesogastric junction adenocarcinomas: What’s new in first-line treatment?

Expression of concern: “Patient-derived organoids from locally advanced gastric adenocarcinomas can predict resistance to neoadjuvant chemotherapy” [J Gastrointest Surg. 2023 Apr;27(4):666-76]

Expression of concern: “Patient-derived organoids from locally advanced gastric adenocarcinomas can predict resistance to neoadjuvant chemotherapy” [J Gastrointest Surg. 2023 Apr;27(4):666-76]

First-line camrelizumab (a PD-1 inhibitor) plus apatinib (an VEGFR-2 inhibitor) and chemotherapy for advanced gastric cancer (SPACE): a phase 1 study

Patients with advanced gastric cancer typically face a grim prognosis. This phase 1a (dose escalation) and phase 1b (dose expansion) study investigated safety and efficacy of first-line camrelizumab plus apatinib and chemotherapy for advanced gastric or gastroesophageal junction adenocarcinoma. The primary endpoints included maximum tolerated dose (MTD) in phase 1a and objective response rate (ORR) across phase 1a and 1b. Phase 1a tested three dose regimens of camrelizumab, apatinib, oxaliplatin, and S-1. Dose regimen 1: camrelizumab 200 mg on day 1, apatinib 250 mg every other day, oxaliplatin 100 mg/m² on day 1, and S-1 40 mg twice a day on days 1–14. Dose regimen 2: same as dose regimen 1, but oxaliplatin 130 mg/m². Dose regimen 3: same as dose regimen 2, but apatinib 250 mg daily. Thirty-four patients were included (9 in phase 1a, 25 in phase 1b). No dose-limiting toxicities occurred so no MTD was identified. Dose 3 was set for the recommended phase 2 doses and administered in phase 1b. The confirmed ORR was 76.5% (95% CI 58.8–89.3). The median progression-free survival was 8.4 months (95% CI 5.9-not evaluable [NE]), and the median overall survival (OS) was not mature (11.6-NE). Ten patients underwent surgery after treatment and the multidisciplinary team evaluation. Among 24 patients without surgery, the median OS was 19.6 months (7.8-NE). Eighteen patients (52.9%) developed grade ≥ 3 treatment-emergent adverse events. Camrelizumab plus apatinib and chemotherapy showed favorable clinical outcomes and manageable safety for untreated advanced gastric cancer (ChiCTR2000034109).

Abstract 6400: Tislelizumab combined with XELOX as a neoadjuvant therapy for locally advanced gastric and gastroesophageal junction adenocarcinomas: A prospective, phase II trial

Abstract Background: Combing anti-PD-(L)1 antibody with chemotherapy in neoadjuvant therapy of gastric/gastroesophageal junction (G/GEJ) adenocarcinomas is a promising strategy, but clinical data are remain insufficient. Whether immunotherapy biomarkers in previous studies (TMB, MSI, PD-L1, etc.) have equivalent predictive value for G/GEJ remains to be verified. In this phase II clinical trial of tislelizumab in combination with chemotherapy, potential therapy-related biomarkers in tumor samples, and changes in the tumor microenvironment during treatment were analyzed, and a predictive model for efficacy was developed. Methods: This was a prospective, single-center, single-arm, phase II trial. Patients with G/GEJ adenocarcinomas (stage cT3-4aN+M0) were treated with PD-1 inhibitor tislelizumab in combination with oxaliplatin plus capecitabine (XELOX) as neoadjuvant treatment for 2 or 3 cycles. The primary endpoint was the major pathological response (MPR). The secondary endpoints included pathological complete response (pCR) rate, R0 resection rate, and safety. Tumor samples underwent RNA-sequencing (Amoy Diagnostics Co Ltd, Xiamen, China), to identify potential biomarkers, and a predictive model was developed to explore factors influencing tumor response and survival. Results: 28 patients were enrolled; mean age was 59.5 years (SD = 8.2), 19 (67.9%) patients were male; 14 (50.0%) patients with primary tumor location in the stomach, and 14 (50.0%) patients with primary tumor location in the GEJ. All patients were EB virus negative. Except one patient with PMS2 loss, 27 patients were pMMR. Nine (32.1%) patients achieved MPR after treatment, with four (14.3%) of them achieved pCR. The R0 resection rate was 96.4%, with 14 (50.0%) patients achieved objective response. No serious adverse events were reported. The most common grade 2 TRAEs during neoadjuvant treatment were anemia (5 of 28, 17.86%) and nausea (3 of 28, 10.71%). Analysis of differentially expressed genes revealed enrichment of the antigen processing and presentation pathway in the MPR group, while the TGF-β signaling pathway was enriched in the non-MPR group. Notably, the differential immune microenvironment analysis also uncovered significant differences in the TGF-β signature between the MPR and non-MPR groups. Additionally, a therapeutic response prediction model (HT score) was developed with an AUC of 0.98 (0.932-1) in the training set, and its performance was validated in publicly available datasets. Conclusion: Tislelizumab combined with XELOX holds promise as a neoadjuvant therapy for resectable G/GEJ adenocarcinomas, especially for EBV- and pMMR population, offering a well-tolerated safety profile. Moreover, the HT score has the potential to predict treatment efficacy in this regimen. Trial registration numbers: NCT05507658 and NCT05508399. Citation Format: Haikun Zhou, Tao Han, Lei Tuo, Qingchuan Yang, Ruiqi Gao, Pengfei Yu, Jiangpeng Wei, Changbin Zhu, Jin Wang, Peng Cheng, Xiang Kang, Sihui Pi, Hui Liu, Xiaoxi Pan, Xiaohua Li, Gang Ji. Tislelizumab combined with XELOX as a neoadjuvant therapy for locally advanced gastric and gastroesophageal junction adenocarcinomas: A prospective, phase II trial [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the American Association for Cancer Research Annual Meeting 2024; Part 1 (Regular Abstracts); 2024 Apr 5-10; San Diego, CA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2024;84(6_Suppl):Abstract nr 6400.

Perioperative chemotherapy with docetaxel plus oxaliplatin and S-1 (DOS) versus oxaliplatin plus S-1 (SOX) for the treatment of locally advanced gastric or gastro-esophageal junction adenocarcinoma (MATCH): an open-label, randomized, phase 2 clinical trial

BackgroundIt remains unclear whether addition of docetaxel to the combination of a platinum and fluoropyrimidine could provide more clinical benefits than doublet chemotherapies in the perioperative treatment for locally advanced gastric/gastro-esophageal junction (LAG/GEJ) cancer in Asia. In this randomized, phase 2 study, we assessed the efficacy and safety of perioperative docetaxel plus oxaliplatin and S-1 (DOS) versus oxaliplatin plus S-1 (SOX) in LAG/GEJ adenocarcinoma patients.MethodsPatients with cT3–4 Nany M0 G/GEJ adenocarcinoma were randomized (1:1) to receive 4 cycles of preoperative DOS or SOX followed by D2 gastrectomy and another 4 cycles of postoperative chemotherapy. The primary endpoint was major pathological response (MPR).ResultsFrom Aug, 2015 to Dec, 2019,154 patients were enrolled and 147 patients included in final analysis, with a median age of 60 (26–73) years. DOS resulted in significantly higher MPR (25.4 vs. 11.8%, P = 0.04). R0 resection rate, the 3-year PFS and 3-year OS rates were 78.9 vs. 61.8% (P = 0.02), 52.3 vs. 35% (HR 0.667, 95% CI: 0.432–1.029, Log rank P = 0.07) and 57.5 vs. 49.2% (HR 0.685, 95% CI: 0.429–1.095, Log rank P = 0.11) in the DOS and SOX groups, respectively. Patients who acquired MPR experienced significantly better survival. DOS had similar tolerance to SOX.ConclusionsPerioperative DOS improved MPR significantly and tended to produce longer PFS compared to SOX in LAG/GEJ cancer in Asia, and might be considered as a preferred option for perioperative chemotherapy and worth further investigation.

Prediction of lymph node metastasis in advanced gastric adenocarcinoma based on dual-energy CT radiomics: focus on the features of lymph nodes with a short axis diameter ≥6 mm.

To explore the value of the features of lymph nodes (LNs) with a short-axis diameter ≥6 mm in predicting lymph node metastasis (LNM) in advanced gastric adenocarcinoma (GAC) based on dual-energy CT (DECT) radiomics. Data of patients with GAC who underwent radical gastrectomy and LN dissection were retrospectively analyzed. To ensure the correspondence between imaging and pathology, metastatic LNs were only selected from patients with pN3, nonmetastatic LNs were selected from patients with pN0, and the short-axis diameters of the enrolled LNs were all ≥6 mm. The traditional features of LNs were recorded, including short-axis diameter, long-axis diameter, long-to-short-axis ratio, position, shape, density, edge, and the degree of enhancement; univariate and multivariate logistic regression analyses were used to establish a clinical model. Radiomics features at the maximum level of LNs were extracted in venous phase equivalent 120 kV linear fusion images and iodine maps. Intraclass correlation coefficients and the Boruta algorithm were used to screen significant features, and random forest was used to build a radiomics model. To construct a combined model, we included the traditional features with statistical significance in univariate analysis and radiomics scores (Rad-score) in multivariate logistic regression analysis. Receiver operating curve (ROC) curves and the DeLong test were used to evaluate and compare the diagnostic performance of the models. Decision curve analysis (DCA) was used to evaluate the clinical benefits of the models. This study included 114 metastatic LNs from 36 pN3 cases and 65 nonmetastatic LNs from 28 pN0 cases. The samples were divided into a training set (n=125) and a validation set (n=54) at a ratio of 7:3. Long-axis diameter and LN shape were independent predictors of LNM and were used to establish the clinical model; 27 screened radiomics features were used to build the radiomics model. LN shape and Rad-score were independent predictors of LNM and were used to construct the combined model. Both the radiomics model (area under the curve [AUC] of 0.986 and 0.984) and the combined model (AUC of 0.970 and 0.977) outperformed the clinical model (AUC of 0.772 and 0.820) in predicting LNM in both the training and validation sets. DCA showed superior clinical benefits from radiomics and combined models. The models based on DECT LN radiomics features or combined traditional features have high diagnostic performance in determining the nature of each LN with a short-axis diameter of ≥6 mm in advanced GAC.

First-Line Nivolumab Plus Chemotherapy for Advanced Gastric, Gastroesophageal Junction, and Esophageal Adenocarcinoma: 3-Year Follow-Up of the Phase III CheckMate 649 Trial.

Clinical trials frequently include multiple end points that mature at different times. The initial report, typically based on the primary end point, may be published when key planned co-primary or secondary analyses are not yet available. Clinical Trial Updates provide an opportunity to disseminate additional results from studies, published in JCO or elsewhere, for which the primary end point has already been reported.We report 3-year efficacy and safety results from the phase III CheckMate 649 trial. Patients with previously untreated advanced or metastatic gastroesophageal adenocarcinoma were randomly assigned to nivolumab plus chemotherapy or chemotherapy. Primary end points were overall survival (OS) and progression-free survival (PFS) by blinded independent central review (BICR) in patients whose tumors expressed PD-L1 combined positive score (CPS) ≥5. With 36.2-month minimum follow-up, for patients with PD-L1 CPS ≥5, the OS hazard ratio (HR) for nivolumab plus chemotherapy versus chemotherapy was 0.70 (95% CI, 0.61 to 0.81); 21% versus 10% of patients were alive at 36 months, respectively; the PFS HR was 0.70 (95% CI, 0.60 to 0.81); 36-month PFS rates were 13% versus 8%, respectively. The objective response rate (ORR) per BICR was 60% (95% CI, 55 to 65) with nivolumab plus chemotherapy versus 45% (95% CI, 40 to 50) with chemotherapy; median duration of response was 9.6 months (95% CI, 8.2 to 12.4) versus 7.0 months (95% CI, 5.6 to 7.9), respectively. Nivolumab plus chemotherapy also continued to show improvement in OS, PFS, and ORR versus chemotherapy in the overall population. Adding nivolumab to chemotherapy maintained clinically meaningful long-term survival benefit versus chemotherapy alone, with an acceptable safety profile, supporting the continued use of nivolumab plus chemotherapy as standard first-line treatment for advanced gastroesophageal adenocarcinoma.

Efficacy and safety of Zolbetuximab plus chemotherapy for advanced CLDN18.2-positive gastric or gastro-oesophageal adenocarcinoma: a meta-analysis of randomized clinical trials

BackgroundThe benefit of adding Zolbetuximab to the treatment in patients with Claudin-18 isoform 2 (CLDN18.2)-positive, human epidermal growth factor receptor 2-negative, locally advanced unresectable or metastatic gastric or gastro-oesophageal junction adenocarcinoma (GC/GEJ) is not yet fully elucidated.MethodsWe searched PubMed, Embase and Cochrane databases for randomized controlled trials (RCTs) that investigated Zolbetuximab plus chemotherapy versus chemotherapy alone for GC or GEJ adenocarcinoma. We computed hazard-ratios (HRs) or odds-ratios (ORs) for binary endpoints, with 95% confidence intervals (CIs).ResultsThree studies and 1,233 patients were included. Comparing with Zolbetuximab plus chemotherapy versus chemotherapy alone, progression-free survival (PFS) rate (HR 0.64; 95% CI 0.49–0.84; p < 0.01) and overall survival (OS) rate (HR 0.72; 95% CI 0.62–0.83; p < 0.01) were significant in favor of the Zolbetuximab group. Regarding effectiveness, the Objective Response Rate (ORR) was (OR 1.15; 95% CI 0.87–1.53; p = 0.34).ConclusionsIn this comprehensive systematic review and meta-analysis of RCTs, the incorporation of Zolbetuximab alongside chemotherapy offers a promising prospect for reshaping the established treatment paradigms for patients diagnosed with advanced CLDN18.2-positive GC/GEJ cancer.

Fruquintinib plus paclitaxel versus paclitaxel as second-line therapy for patients with advanced gastric or gastroesophageal junction adenocarcinoma (FRUTIGA): A randomized, multicenter, double-blind, placebo-controlled, phase 3 study.

438780 Background: Fruquintinib (F), a highly selective and potent oral inhibitor of VEGFRs 1, 2, and 3, significantly improved the OS in metastatic colorectal cancer ( Li J, et al, JAMA 2018; Dasari A, et al, LANCET 2023). FRUTIGA was a randomized, double-blind, placebo (PBO)-controlled, phase 3 study evaluating the efficacy and safety of F plus paclitaxel (PTX) vs PTX alone in patients (pts) with advanced gastric or gastroesophageal junction (G/GEJ) adenocarcinoma who experienced disease progression (PD) on fluoropyrimidine- or platinum-containing first-line chemotherapy. Methods: Eligible pts were randomized 1:1 to receive F (4 mg, once daily, 3 weeks on/1 week off) or matching PBO orally, plus PTX (80 mg/m2, intravenously, days 1/8/15 per cycle) in 4-week cycles until PD or intolerable toxicity; treatment of PTX was allowed for up to 6 cycles. PFS and OS were dual-primary endpoints with α split and recycle. The study was considered positive when at least one endpoint met statistical significance. Results: 703 pts were randomized (F+PTX 351 vs PBO+PTX 352), and 699 pts received at least 1 dose of study drug (350 vs 349). PFS was significantly improved with F+PTX vs PBO+PTX (median PFS [mPFS] 5.55m vs 2.73m; HR = 0.569; p &lt; 0.0001). The overall response rate was significantly higher in F+PTX group (42.5% vs 22.4%, p &lt; 0.0001). Median OS (mOS) was 9.63m with F+PTX and 8.41m with PBO+PTX (HR = 0.956; p = 0.6064). Given an imbalance of pts receiving subsequent antitumor therapies (F+PTX 52.7% vs PBO+PTX 72.2%), post-hoc analyses were performed using cox-proportional hazards model adjusting for subsequent antitumor therapies and baseline factors. Results showed a nominal statistically significant improvement in OS with F+PTX (HR range 0.793-0.828; p range 0.0105-0.0350 with different subsequent antitumor therapy factors). Furthermore, among pts with lymph node metastases and non-diffuse G/GEJ adenocarcinoma (190 vs 208), mPFS was even more prolonged (6.08m vs 2.69m; HR = 0.454; p &lt; 0.0001) and OS also showed a nominal statistically significant improvement (mOS 9.56m vs 7.85m; HR = 0.767; p = 0.0233). The most common TEAEs of Grade ≥ 3 were neutropenia (60.0% vs 36.4%), leukopenia (42.9% vs 23.5%), and anemia (11.7% vs 10.6%). The safety profile was consistent with F and PTX. No new safety signals were identified. Conclusions: FRUTIGA (NCT03223376) was a positive study by reaching statistical significance for one primary endpoint, PFS, and demonstrated improvement in the other primary endpoint, OS, that was not statistically significant, possibly due to the imbalance of subsequent antitumor therapies. These data support F+PTX as a potential new second-line treatment option for pts with advanced G/GEJ adenocarcinoma. Clinical trial information: NCT03223376 .

MalnutritiOn assessment with biOelectrical impedaNce analysis in gastRic cancer patIentS undergoing multimodaltrEatment (MOONRISE)-Study protocol for a single-arm multicenter cross-sectional longitudinal study.

European data suggests that over 30% of gastric cancer (GC) patients are diagnosed with sarcopenia before surgery, while unintentional weight loss occurs in approximately 30% of patients following gastrectomy. Preoperative sarcopenia significantly increases the risk of major postoperative complications, and preoperative body weight loss remains a superior predictor of outcome and an independent prognostic factor for overall survival (OS) in patients with GC. A standardized approach of nutritional risk screening of GC patients is yet to be established. Therefore, the MOONRISE study aims to prospectively analyze the changes in nutritional status and body composition at each stage of multimodal treatment among GC patients from five Western expert centers. Specifically, we seek to assess the association between nutritional status and body composition on tumor response following neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NAC). Secondary outcomes of the study are treatment toxicity, postoperative complications, quality of life (QoL), and OS. Patients with locally advanced gastric adenocarcinoma scheduled for multimodal treatment will be included in the study. Four consecutive nutritional status assessments will be performed throughout the treatment. The following study was registered in ClinicalTrials.gov (Identifier: NCT05723718) and will be conducted in accordance with the STROBE statement. The anticipated duration of the study is 12-24 months, depending on the recruitment status. Results of this study will reveal whether nutritional status and body composition assessment based on BIA will become a validated and objective tool to support clinical decisions in GC patients undergoing multimodal treatment.

Efficacy and safety of neoadjuvant sintilimab in combination with FLOT chemotherapy in patients with HER2-negative locally advanced gastric or gastroesophageal junction adenocarcinoma: an investigator-initiated, single-arm, open-label, phase II study.

The addition of immune checkpoint inhibitors to neoadjuvant chemotherapy in operable advanced gastric or gastroesophageal junction (G/GEJ) cancer aroused wide interest. This study was designed to assess the efficacy and safety of neoadjuvant sintilimab, a programmed cell death protein-1 (PD-1) inhibitor, in combination with fluorouracil, leucovorin, oxaliplatin, and docetaxel (FLOT) chemotherapy for HER2-negative locally advanced G/GEJ cancer. Eligible patients with clinical stage cT4 and/or cN+M0 G/GEJ cancer were enrolled in this phase II study. Patients received neoadjuvant sintilimab (200mg every 3 weeks) for three cycles plus FLOT (50mg/m2 docetaxel, 80mg/m2 oxaliplatin, 200mg/m2 calcium levofolinate, 2600mg/m2 5-fluorouracil every 2 weeks) for four cycles before surgery, followed by 4 cycles of adjuvant FLOT with same dosages after resection. The primary endpoint was the pathological complete response (pCR) rate. Thirty-two patients were enrolled between August 2019 and September 2021, with a median follow-up of 34.8 (95% CI, 32.8-42.9) months. Thirty-one (96.9%) patients received neoadjuvant therapy, and 29 underwent surgery with an R0 resection rate of 93.1%. The pCR (TRG0) was achieved in 5 (17.2%; 95% CI, 5.8%-35.8%) patients, and the major pathological response was 55.2%. Twenty-three (79.3%) patients had T downstaging, 16 (55.2%) had N downstaging, and 19 (65.5%) had overall TNM downstaging. Six (20.7%) patients experienced recurrence. Patients achieving pCR showed better event-free survival (EFS), disease-free survival (DFS), and overall survival (OS) than non-pCR. The estimated 3-year EFS rate, 3-year DFS rate, and 3-year OS rate were 71.4% (95% CI, 57.2%-89.2%), 78.8% (95% CI, 65.1%-95.5%), and 70.9% (95% CI, 54.8%-91.6%), respectively. The objective response rate and disease control rate were 84.4% (95% CI, 68.3%-93.1%) and 96.9% (95% CI, 84.3%-99.5%), respectively. Twenty-five (86.2%) received adjuvant therapy. The main grade ≥3 treatment-related adverse events (TRAEs) were lymphopenia (34.4%), neutropenia (28.1%), and leukopenia (15.6%). no patients died from TRAE. The LDH level exhibited a better predictive value to pathological responses than PD-L1 and MSI status. The study demonstrated an encouraging efficacy and manageable safety profile of neoadjuvant sintilimab plus FLOT in HER2-negative locally advanced G/GEJ cancer, which suggested a potential therapeutic option for this population.

Evidence to Date on the Therapeutic Potential of Zolbetuximab in Advanced Gastroesophageal Adenocarcinoma.

Gastric adenocarcinoma (GAC) continues to be a prevalent worldwide malignancy and a leading cause of cancer death, and it is frequently cited as incurable. Targeted therapy in GAC has lagged behind other solid tumors. The human epidermal growth factor receptor-2 (HER-2) represented the single target in GACs for many years, seen in approximately 20% of patients with advanced GAC. Recent advances in management now include the addition of immunotherapy checkpoint inhibition to select front-line advanced GACs. Unfortunately, outcomes remain poor for most patients. We anticipate finding a key to future discoveries in GACs in next-generation sequencing and more targeted approaches. Claudin 18.2 (CLDN18.2) has emerged as a therapeutic target in GACs. CLDN18.2 is reportedly expressed in 14-87% of GACs, and CLDN18.2 is available for monoclonal antibody (mAb) binding as it is expressed on the outer cell membrane. Here, we review the exploration of CLDN18.2 as a target in GACs via the use of zolbetuximab (IMAB362). Zolbetuximab is now under priority FDA review for GACs, and we eagerly await the review outcome.

Multidisciplinary treatment of synchronous primary advanced gastric adenocarcinoma and esophageal squamous cell carcinoma–a retrospective single-institution study

Multidisciplinary treatment of synchronous primary advanced gastric adenocarcinoma and esophageal squamous cell carcinoma–a retrospective single-institution study

Overcoming resistance to programmed cell death protein 1 (PD-1) blockade with allogeneic invariant natural killer T-cells (iNKT).

Gastric cancer is the 5th most common malignancy worldwide with only 36% of patients with metastatic disease surviving beyond 5 years. Despite therapeutic improvements with the advent of immune checkpoint inhibitors, most patients with gastric cancer develop disease progression related to tumor resistance. Novel immunotherapeutic approaches, including invariant natural killer (iNKT) cells, are in clinical development and represent potential therapeutic options to overcome resistance. AgenT-797 is an allogeneic human unmodified iNKT derived from healthy donors. Activation of iNKT cells by tumor lipid antigens can trigger direct cytotoxicity and promote indirect anti-tumor immune responses such as recruitment and activation of T cells, NK cells, and dendritic cells through secretion of cytokines and IFNγ. We describe immune modulation leading to durable tumor response in a patient with microsatellite instability-high (MSI-H) advanced gastric adenocarcinoma treated with agent-797 after progression on standard chemotherapy and anti-PD-1 therapy.

Real-world comparison of treatment outcomes between advanced esophagogastric junction adenocarcinoma and gastric adenocarcinoma.

267 Background: The characteristics of esophagogastric junction adenocarcinoma (EGJA) differ from those of gastric adenocarcinoma (GA). Although chemotherapy for advanced GA has been adapted for advanced EGJA, its efficacy remains unknown. This study aims to elucidate the effectiveness of chemotherapy for advanced EGJA in real-world practice. Methods: This retrospective study compared treatment outcomes between advanced GA and EGJA in patients with performance status (PS) 0 to 2 who received doublet or triplet chemotherapy, including platinum agents, as first-line treatment at our hospital between 2010 and 2020. Patients with non-curative resection factors limited to positive peritoneal cytology, or those who relapsed during adjuvant chemotherapy or within 6 months after its completion, were excluded. Results: Out of the total 825 patients, 765 had GA and 60 had EGJA. The baseline characteristics of the GA and EGJA groups were as follows, respectively: median age 65.0 and 59.5 years (p = 0.02); PS 0, 35.9% and 33.3%; PS 1, 57.5% and 65.0%; PS 2, 6.5% and 1.7% (p = 0.28); HER2 positive, 16.1% and 26.7% (p = 0.06); diffuse histology, 52.7% and 26.7% (p &lt; 0.01); lymph node metastasis, 74.0% and 93.3% (p &lt; 0.01); peritoneal metastasis, 66.4% and 25.0% (p &lt; 0.01); liver metastasis, 26.4% and 40.0% (p = 0.03); lung metastasis, 6.5% and 16.7% (p &lt; 0.01). The proportions of fluoropyrimidine, taxanes, and irinotecan in all treatment lines did not differ between the two groups (fluoropyrimidine, 99.7% vs. 100%; taxanes, 70.1% vs. 73.3%; irinotecan, 23.0% vs. 23.3%). However, the EGJA group used ramucirumab, trastuzumab, and immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) significantly more frequently than the GA group (ramucirumab, 27.8% vs. 43.3%, p = 0.02; trastuzumab, 15.4% vs. 26.7%, p = 0.03; ICIs, 21.0% vs. 41.7%, p &lt; 0.01). Overall survival did not differ between the two groups (median, 14.8 months vs. 18.5 months, HR 0.80; 95% CI, 0.59-1.10, p = 0.17). Moreover, multivariate analysis revealed that EGJA and GA had a comparable prognosis (HR 1.23; 95% CI, 0.87-1.72, p = 0.24). HER2 positivity was a favorable prognostic factor in multivariate analysis, whereas diffuse histology, poor PS, lymph node metastasis, liver metastasis, and the presence of peritoneal metastasis were poor prognostic factors. There was no difference in time-to-treatment failure between the two groups for first-line (median, 6.1 vs. 4.9 months, HR 0.96; 95% CI, 0.73-1.28, p = 0.80), second-line (median, 2.9 vs. 3.5 months, HR 0.99; 95% CI, 0.73-1.34, p = 0.93), and third-line treatment (median, 1.9 vs. 2.7 months, HR 0.78; 95% CI, 0.53-1.13, p = 0.62). Conclusions: In real-world practice, the efficacy of chemotherapy for advanced EGJA was comparable to that for advanced GA.