Fast Five Quiz: Gastric Cancer

Daniel Catenacci, MD

Disclosures

August 23, 2022

Trastuzumab is a recombinant immunoglobulin G 1 monoclonal antibody that targets HER2 receptors. According to the 2022 NCCN Clinical Practice Guidelines, trastuzumab in combination with chemotherapy is recommended as first-line therapy for patients with HER2-positive gastric tumors. Clinical trials have demonstrated an increased overall survival duration of 13.8 months in patients treated with trastuzumab plus chemotherapy, compared with 11.1 months in patients treated with chemotherapy alone. The KEYNOTE-811 clinical trial evaluating the addition of pembrolizumab to trastuzumab plus chemotherapy suggests that adding pembrolizumab reduces tumor size and improves response rates. In May 2021, the Food and Drug Administration granted approval of pembrolizumab in combination with trastuzumab plus chemotherapy for patients with locally advanced unresectable or metastatic HER2-positive gastric cancer.

The VEGFR2 antagonist, ramucirumab, is recommended for patients with metastatic gastric cancer who have failed first-line therapies.

Radiation therapy may be useful for palliative care.

Learn more about gastric cancer.

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