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Incorporation of molecular targeted agents and immunotherapy into standard first-line chemotherapy has significantly increased the rates of complete response (CR) and overall survival in patients with initially metastatic gastric cancer or gastroesophageal junction cancer (mGC/GEJC). Still, little has been known about the characteristics and clinical course of patients who achieve a durable complete response (CR) suggestive of potential cure after systemic chemotherapy alone.
Recent findings from a retrospective analysis of data from 51 patients with unresectable advanced or recurrent GC/GEJC, however, revealed an enrichment of actionable tumor biomarkers among patients achieving complete clinical response with organ preservation after first-line treatment.
The analysis by Shinpei Ushiyama, MD, of the National Cancer Center Hospital East, in Kashiwa, Japan, and colleagues, published in JCO Oncology Practice, showed that:23.5% of patients had tumors positive for HER223.3% had tumors positive for deficient mismatch repair (dMMR)30.0% had tumors positive for PD-L1 combined positive score ≥1016.0% had tumors positive for claudin 18.2 (CLDN18.2)
