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Cancer

Breakthrough in Gastric Cancer Treatment: IMC001 Shows Promising Efficacy

Strategic Insights

— 2 min read

Researchers from the Second Military Medical University in Shanghai, People's Republic of China, have made significant progress in the development of a novel treatment for advanced gastric cancer. The study, published in the Journal of Molecular Therapy, explores the effectiveness of IMC001, an autologous EpCAM-targeted CAR-T cell therapy, in patients who have failed at least two lines of therapy.

IMC001 was found to specifically recognize EpCAM and exhibit potent anti-tumor activity in preclinical models and patient-derived organoids. The trial, which took place from August 2021 to May 2023, involved 12 advanced gastric cancer patients who received IMC001. While all patients experienced severe treatment-related adverse events, including lymphopenia and cytokine release syndrome, the study reported promising efficacy, with 33.3% of low-dose patients and 40% of middle-dose patients achieving partial responses.

Key Takeaways:

  • IMC001, an EpCAM-targeted CAR-T cell therapy, showed potent anti-tumor activity in preclinical models and patient-derived organoids.
  • The trial involved 12 advanced gastric cancer patients who received IMC001, with all experiencing severe treatment-related adverse events.
  • Despite adverse events, the study reported a promising efficacy, with partial responses observed in 33.3% of low-dose patients and 40% of middle-dose patients.
  • The objective response rate was 30%, and the disease control rate was 70%.
  • The median progression-free survival and overall survival were 4.5 and 8.4 months, respectively, with one patient undergoing conversion surgery and remaining alive 31.5 months post-infusion.
  • The study concluded that IMC001 has an acceptable safety profile and promising efficacy in advanced gastric cancer, supporting further clinical development for refractory GC patients.

Statistics:

  • 12 patients were involved in the study.
  • 100% of patients experienced severe treatment-related adverse events, including lymphopenia and cytokine release syndrome.
  • 33.3% of low-dose patients and 40% of middle-dose patients achieved partial responses.
  • Objective response rate: 30%.
  • Disease control rate: 70%.
  • Median progression-free survival: 4.5 months.
  • Median overall survival: 8.4 months.
  • Conversion surgery was performed on one patient, resulting in a survival rate of 31.5 months post-infusion.

Sources:

  • Preclinical development and a phase 1 trial of IMC001, an EpCAM-targeted CAR-T cell therapy, in patients with advanced gastric cancer. Molecular Therapy, 2025.
  • NewsRx. Second Military Medical University Details Findings in Gastric Cancer (Preclinical development and a phase 1 trial of IMC001, an EpCAM-targeted CAR-T cell therapy, in patients with advanced gastric cancer). Cancer Weekly. September 9, 2025; p 506.

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