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Cancer

Atezolizumab and Trastuzumab Plus Chemotherapy Shows Promising Efficacy in Gastric Cancer

Strategic Insights

— 2 min read

Research conducted at Peking University Cancer Hospital and Institute has yielded promising results in the treatment of gastric cancer. The study, which has been peer-reviewed and published in JAMA Oncology, investigated the efficacy and safety of adding atezolizumab to trastuzumab plus chemotherapy in patients with locally advanced, HER2-positive gastric or gastroesophageal junction cancer. The results suggest that this combination therapy may demonstrate significant efficacy in this patient population, with no new safety concerns raised.

Key Takeaways:

  • The study was an open-label phase 2 randomized clinical trial conducted at 8 study sites in China, with patient recruitment starting on February 25, 2021.
  • The trial enrolled 42 patients, who were randomly assigned to either atezolizumab plus trastuzumab plus XELOX (arm A) or trastuzumab plus XELOX (arm B) for 3 neoadjuvant cycles and 5 adjuvant cycles.
  • The primary efficacy end point was the pathological complete response (pCR) rate following completion of neoadjuvant therapy and surgery, which was significantly higher in arm A (38%) than arm B (14%).
  • Age younger than 65 years, male sex, and intestinal Lauren classification were significantly associated with a better pCR rate in arm A.
  • The incidence of treatment-emergent adverse events was 100% in both arms, with grade 3 or higher TEAEs occurring in 57% of patients in arm A and 67% of patients in arm B.
  • The study concluded that adding atezolizumab to trastuzumab plus XELOX therapy demonstrated promising efficacy in this patient population, with no new safety concerns raised.

Statistics:

  • 42 patients were screened and enrolled in the trial.
  • 21 patients were randomly assigned to arm A, and 21 patients were randomly assigned to arm B.
  • The median age of patients in arm A was 61 years (range 33-72), and the median age of patients in arm B was 65 years (range 49-72).
  • The pCR rate was significantly higher in arm A (38%) than arm B (14%).
  • Age younger than 65 years was associated with a better pCR rate in arm A.
  • Male sex was associated with a better pCR rate in arm A.
  • Intestinal Lauren classification was associated with a better pCR rate in arm A.

Sources:

  • NewsRx. Research Conducted at Peking University Cancer Hospital and Institute Has Provided New Information about Gastric Cancer (Atezolizumab and Trastuzumab Plus Chemotherapy for erbb2 -positive Locally Advanced Resectable Gastric Cancer: a ...). Medical Devices & Surgical Technology Week. May 25, 2025; p 365.
  • Atezolizumab and Trastuzumab Plus Chemotherapy for erbb2 -positive Locally Advanced Resectable Gastric Cancer: a Randomized Clinical Trial. JAMA Oncology, 2025.

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