Breakthrough in Gastric Cancer Treatment: New Immunotherapies and Molecular Targets Boost Survival Rates

July 29, 2024
Breakthrough in Gastric Cancer Treatment: New Immunotherapies and Molecular Targets Boost Survival Rates
  • Gastric cancer (GC) remains a significant global health challenge, characterized by high prevalence and mortality rates that are projected to worsen in the coming years.

  • Metastatic gastric cancer poses considerable clinical challenges due to limited treatment options and poor prognosis, with most cases diagnosed at advanced stages.

  • For early-stage gastric cancer, curative treatment typically involves surgery followed by chemotherapy; however, recurrence rates remain high.

  • The current standard of care for advanced gastric cancer includes combination chemotherapy and immunotherapy, achieving a one-year overall survival rate of 55%.

  • Immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) have significantly improved survival outcomes in patients with advanced gastroesophageal cancer (GEC) while presenting a lower incidence of severe adverse events compared to traditional chemotherapy.

  • Recent studies indicate that ICIs, whether used alone or in combination with chemotherapy, enhance health-related quality of life (HRQoL) for patients with advanced GEC compared to chemotherapy alone.

  • The use of PD-1 and PD-L1 inhibitors has shown promise, particularly in patients with microsatellite instability-high (MSI-H) tumors, leading to improved response rates and overall survival.

  • Molecular targets such as programmed cell death 1 (PD-1), microsatellite instability (MSI), and human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2) are crucial for guiding therapy decisions.

  • The anti-HER2 antibody trastuzumab has been established as a standard first-line treatment for HER2-positive advanced gastric cancer, significantly improving overall survival.

  • Fibroblast Growth Factor Receptors (FGFRs), particularly FGFR2, have emerged as promising targets for gastric cancer treatment due to their overexpression, especially in diffuse-type GC.

  • FGFR2-targeted agents are currently being tested as monotherapies or in combination with standard-of-care treatments to enhance clinical outcomes.

  • Recent advancements in identifying molecular targets and utilizing immune checkpoint inhibitors alongside chemotherapy have transformed the treatment landscape for metastatic gastric cancer.

Summary based on 3 sources


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