The treatment landscape for gastroesophageal adenocarcinomas

Clin Adv Hematol Oncol. 2022 Mar;20(3):169-177.

Abstract

The treatment landscape for gastroesophageal adenocarcinomas has significantly changed over the last year. The addition of nivolumab to first-line chemotherapy has led to survival benefit in patients who have metastatic gastroesophageal adenocarcinoma with a programmed death ligand 1 combined positive score of 5 or greater. Similarly, in patients with metastatic human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2)-positive gastroesophageal adenocarcinoma, the addition of pembrolizumab to chemotherapy and trastuzumab has significantly improved efficacy. Furthermore, a phase 2 study revealed that trastuzumab deruxtecan, a new antibody-drug conjugate, significantly improved survival in comparison with chemotherapy among patients with HER2-positive gastric cancer in the refractory setting, and it produced a signal of efficacy in the second-line setting. Chemoimmunotherapy combinations are now considered the standard of care for a significant number of patients with gastroesophageal adenocarcinomas.

Publication types

  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Adenocarcinoma* / drug therapy
  • Adenocarcinoma* / pathology
  • Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / adverse effects
  • Humans
  • Nivolumab / therapeutic use
  • Receptor, ErbB-2
  • Stomach Neoplasms* / pathology
  • Trastuzumab / therapeutic use

Substances

  • Trastuzumab
  • Receptor, ErbB-2
  • Nivolumab