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Cancer

Gastric Cancer Research Reveals Promising Outcomes for Trastuzumab Therapy

Strategic Insights

— 1 min read

A new study has shed light on the efficacy and safety of trastuzumab plus chemo(immuno)therapy for patients with potentially resectable HER2-positive gastric cancer. Research conducted at the Affiliated Hospital of Qingdao University in China revealed that the addition of trastuzumab to preoperative chemotherapy or chemoimmunotherapy resulted in a tumor regression grade of 33.3% among patients with potentially resectable HER2-positive gastric cancer, with a favorable safety profile.

Key Takeaways:

  • The study included 40 patients with potentially resectable stage III to IVB HER2-positive gastric cancer who received preoperative therapy prior to D2 gastrectomy.
  • The main outcomes of interest included tumor regression grade (TRG), treatment-related adverse events (TRAEs), and event-free survival (EFS).
  • All patients in the study underwent D2 gastrectomy, with 27 patients receiving trastuzumab plus chemo(immuno)therapy and 13 patients receiving chemo(immuno)therapy.
  • The trastuzumab-containing treatment group experienced a higher rate of TRG0/1 rates (33.3% vs. 15.4%) and a lower rate of preoperative TRAEs (66.7% vs. 61.5%) compared to the chemotherapy/chemoimmunotherapy group.
  • The probabilities of EFS were not statistically significant between the two groups by the last follow-up.
  • The study concludes that the addition of trastuzumab to preoperative chemotherapy or chemoimmunotherapy resulted in a TRG0/1 rate of 33.3% among patients with potentially resectable HER2-positive gastric cancer, with a favorable safety profile.

Statistics:

  • 27 patients in the study received trastuzumab plus chemo(immuno)therapy (67.5% of the total).
  • 13 patients in the study received chemo(immuno)therapy (32.5% of the total).
  • The trastuzumab-containing treatment group experienced a 33.3% TRG0/1 rate.
  • The chemotherapy/chemoimmunotherapy group experienced a 15.4% TRG0/1 rate.
  • 66.7% of patients in the trastuzumab-containing treatment group experienced preoperative TRAEs.
  • 61.5% of patients in the chemotherapy/chemoimmunotherapy group experienced preoperative TRAEs.

Sources:

  • Research: Additions of trastuzumab to preoperative chemotherapy or chemoimmunotherapy for patients with potentially resectable stage III to IVB HER2-positive gastric cancer. Frontiers in Immunology, 2025,16.
  • Publisher: Frontiers Media S.A.
  • Journal article URL: https://doi-org.sdpl.idm.oclc.org/10.3389/fimmu.2025.1624943
  • Author quote: Xuchen Zhang, Department of Oncology, Affiliated Hospital of Qingdao University, Qingdao, People's Republic of China.

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