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In early-stage disease, perioperative chemotherapy plays a critical role. The triple-chemotherapy FLOT regimen is now the standard treatment in patients who are able to tolerate it. However, it is associated with significant toxicities, and modifications frequently are needed. In clinical practice, FOLFOX chemotherapy can be used in patients who are not candidates for FLOT. A phase 2 OGSG 1601 study enrolled 37 patients with clinical stage T3/T4a N1-3 M0 gastric cancer who received perioperative doublet chemotherapy with capecitabine and oxaliplatin. At the 3-year follow-up, this study continues to demonstrate good activity of this doublet chemotherapy, with an overall survival rate of 83.8% at 3 years and relapse-free rate of 73%. These results support the use of this doublet in patients who cannot tolerate a more intense chemotherapy regimen. The interpretation of this study is limited by its small size and nonrandomized design. Given what we know about the activity of this regimen in advanced disease, however, these results add to the body of evidence that supports the use of this doublet in select patients.
There have been efforts to augment the activity of perioperative chemotherapy using antiangiogenic agents. In the advanced setting, studies with antiangiogenic agents have had mixed results. Ramucirumab in combination with paclitaxel is FDA-approved in the second-line setting, but a subsequent study in the first line-setting showed no improvement from the addition of ramucirumab.4,7 In the preoperative setting, the role of ramucirumab in combination with chemotherapy was evaluated in a phase 2 study. Although a hint of activity was seen, there was increased toxicity, especially in Siewert type I tumors.8 The phase 2 study by Tang and colleagues enrolled 32 patients with resectable gastric and gastroesophageal juncture adenocarcinoma who received neoadjuvant oxaliplatin, capecitabine, and apatinib. Apatinib is a small-molecule tyrosine kinase inhibitor with highly selective affinity to vascular endothelial growth factor receptor 2. The treatment had manageable toxicity, with hypertension being the most common adverse event, as expected. Early signs of potential clinical efficacy were seen (pathologic complete response and pathologic response were achieved in 6.3% and 34.4% of the patients, respectively), but the true contribution from the addition of apatinib can be established only in a prospective randomized study. For now, chemotherapy alone remains the standard perioperative treatment, although ongoing studies are evaluating the addition of immune checkpoint inhibitors in this setting (NCT03221426, NCT04592913). These types of agents are probably more likely than antiangiogenic agents to become part of standard treatment in the perioperative setting.
Additional References
- Janjigian YY, Shitara K, Moehler M, et al. First-line nivolumab plus chemotherapy versus chemotherapy alone for advanced gastric, gastro-oesophageal junction, and oesophageal adenocarcinoma (CheckMate 649): A randomised, open-label, phase 3 trial. Lancet. 2021;398:27-40. Doi: 10.1016/S0140-6736(21)00797-2 Source
- Van Cutsem E, Moiseyenko VM, Tjulandin S, et al. Phase III study of docetaxel and cisplatin plus fluorouracil compared with cisplatin and fluorouracil as first-line therapy for advanced gastric cancer: A report of the V325 Study Group. J Clin Oncol. 2006;24:4991-4997. Doi: 10.1200/JCO.2006.06.8429 Source
- Al-Batran S-E, Homann N, Pauligk C, et al. Perioperative chemotherapy with fluorouracil plus leucovorin, oxaliplatin, and docetaxel versus fluorouracil or capecitabine plus cisplatin and epirubicin for locally advanced, resectable gastric or gastro-oesophageal junction adenocarcinoma (FLOT4): A randomised, phase 2/3 trial. Lancet. 2019;393:1948-1957. Doi: 10.1016/S0140-6736(18)32557-1 Source0
- Wilke H, Van Cutsem E, Cheul Oh S, et al. RAINBOW: A global, phase 3, randomized, double-blind study of ramucirumab plus paclitaxel versus placebo plus paclitaxel in the treatment of metastatic gastric adenocarcinoma following disease progression on first-line platinum- and fluoropyrimidine-containing combination therapy: Results of a multiple Cox regression analysis adjusting for prognostic factors. J Clin Oncol. 2014;32(15, suppl):1076. Doi: 10.1200/jco.2014.32.15_suppl.4076 Source
- Elimova E, Janjigian YY, Mulcahy M, et al. It is time to stop using epirubicin to treat any patient with gastroesophageal adenocarcinoma. J Clin Oncol. 2017;35:475-477. Doi: 10.1200/JCO.2016.69.7276 Source
- Park H, Jin RU, Wang-Gillam A, et al. FOLFIRINOX for the treatment of advanced gastroesophageal cancers: A phase 2 nonrandomized clinical trial. JAMA Oncol. 2020;6:1231-1240. Doi: 10.1001/jamaoncol.2020.2020 Source
- Fuchs CS, Shitara K, Di Bartolomeo M, et al. RAINFALL: A randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled phase III study of cisplatin (Cis) plus capecitabine (Cape) or 5FU with or without ramucirumab (RAM) as first-line therapy in patients with metastatic gastric or gastroesophageal junction (G-GEJ) adenocarcinoma. J Clin Oncol. 2018;36(4, suppl):5. Doi: 10.1200/JCO.2018.36.4_suppl.5 Source
- Al-Batran S-E, Hofheinz RD, Schmalenberg H, et al. Perioperative ramucirumab in combination with FLOT versus FLOT alone for resectable esophagogastric adenocarcinoma (RAMSES/FLOT7): Results of the phase II-portion—A multicenter, randomized phase II/III trial of the German AIO and Italian GOIM. J Clin Oncol. 2020;38(15, suppl):4501. Doi: 10.1200/JCO.2020.38.15_suppl.4501 Source
In early-stage disease, perioperative chemotherapy plays a critical role. The triple-chemotherapy FLOT regimen is now the standard treatment in patients who are able to tolerate it. However, it is associated with significant toxicities, and modifications frequently are needed. In clinical practice, FOLFOX chemotherapy can be used in patients who are not candidates for FLOT. A phase 2 OGSG 1601 study enrolled 37 patients with clinical stage T3/T4a N1-3 M0 gastric cancer who received perioperative doublet chemotherapy with capecitabine and oxaliplatin. At the 3-year follow-up, this study continues to demonstrate good activity of this doublet chemotherapy, with an overall survival rate of 83.8% at 3 years and relapse-free rate of 73%. These results support the use of this doublet in patients who cannot tolerate a more intense chemotherapy regimen. The interpretation of this study is limited by its small size and nonrandomized design. Given what we know about the activity of this regimen in advanced disease, however, these results add to the body of evidence that supports the use of this doublet in select patients.
There have been efforts to augment the activity of perioperative chemotherapy using antiangiogenic agents. In the advanced setting, studies with antiangiogenic agents have had mixed results. Ramucirumab in combination with paclitaxel is FDA-approved in the second-line setting, but a subsequent study in the first line-setting showed no improvement from the addition of ramucirumab.4,7 In the preoperative setting, the role of ramucirumab in combination with chemotherapy was evaluated in a phase 2 study. Although a hint of activity was seen, there was increased toxicity, especially in Siewert type I tumors.8 The phase 2 study by Tang and colleagues enrolled 32 patients with resectable gastric and gastroesophageal juncture adenocarcinoma who received neoadjuvant oxaliplatin, capecitabine, and apatinib. Apatinib is a small-molecule tyrosine kinase inhibitor with highly selective affinity to vascular endothelial growth factor receptor 2. The treatment had manageable toxicity, with hypertension being the most common adverse event, as expected. Early signs of potential clinical efficacy were seen (pathologic complete response and pathologic response were achieved in 6.3% and 34.4% of the patients, respectively), but the true contribution from the addition of apatinib can be established only in a prospective randomized study. For now, chemotherapy alone remains the standard perioperative treatment, although ongoing studies are evaluating the addition of immune checkpoint inhibitors in this setting (NCT03221426, NCT04592913). These types of agents are probably more likely than antiangiogenic agents to become part of standard treatment in the perioperative setting.
Additional References
- Janjigian YY, Shitara K, Moehler M, et al. First-line nivolumab plus chemotherapy versus chemotherapy alone for advanced gastric, gastro-oesophageal junction, and oesophageal adenocarcinoma (CheckMate 649): A randomised, open-label, phase 3 trial. Lancet. 2021;398:27-40. Doi: 10.1016/S0140-6736(21)00797-2 Source
- Van Cutsem E, Moiseyenko VM, Tjulandin S, et al. Phase III study of docetaxel and cisplatin plus fluorouracil compared with cisplatin and fluorouracil as first-line therapy for advanced gastric cancer: A report of the V325 Study Group. J Clin Oncol. 2006;24:4991-4997. Doi: 10.1200/JCO.2006.06.8429 Source
- Al-Batran S-E, Homann N, Pauligk C, et al. Perioperative chemotherapy with fluorouracil plus leucovorin, oxaliplatin, and docetaxel versus fluorouracil or capecitabine plus cisplatin and epirubicin for locally advanced, resectable gastric or gastro-oesophageal junction adenocarcinoma (FLOT4): A randomised, phase 2/3 trial. Lancet. 2019;393:1948-1957. Doi: 10.1016/S0140-6736(18)32557-1 Source0
- Wilke H, Van Cutsem E, Cheul Oh S, et al. RAINBOW: A global, phase 3, randomized, double-blind study of ramucirumab plus paclitaxel versus placebo plus paclitaxel in the treatment of metastatic gastric adenocarcinoma following disease progression on first-line platinum- and fluoropyrimidine-containing combination therapy: Results of a multiple Cox regression analysis adjusting for prognostic factors. J Clin Oncol. 2014;32(15, suppl):1076. Doi: 10.1200/jco.2014.32.15_suppl.4076 Source
- Elimova E, Janjigian YY, Mulcahy M, et al. It is time to stop using epirubicin to treat any patient with gastroesophageal adenocarcinoma. J Clin Oncol. 2017;35:475-477. Doi: 10.1200/JCO.2016.69.7276 Source
- Park H, Jin RU, Wang-Gillam A, et al. FOLFIRINOX for the treatment of advanced gastroesophageal cancers: A phase 2 nonrandomized clinical trial. JAMA Oncol. 2020;6:1231-1240. Doi: 10.1001/jamaoncol.2020.2020 Source
- Fuchs CS, Shitara K, Di Bartolomeo M, et al. RAINFALL: A randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled phase III study of cisplatin (Cis) plus capecitabine (Cape) or 5FU with or without ramucirumab (RAM) as first-line therapy in patients with metastatic gastric or gastroesophageal junction (G-GEJ) adenocarcinoma. J Clin Oncol. 2018;36(4, suppl):5. Doi: 10.1200/JCO.2018.36.4_suppl.5 Source
- Al-Batran S-E, Hofheinz RD, Schmalenberg H, et al. Perioperative ramucirumab in combination with FLOT versus FLOT alone for resectable esophagogastric adenocarcinoma (RAMSES/FLOT7): Results of the phase II-portion—A multicenter, randomized phase II/III trial of the German AIO and Italian GOIM. J Clin Oncol. 2020;38(15, suppl):4501. Doi: 10.1200/JCO.2020.38.15_suppl.4501 Source
In early-stage disease, perioperative chemotherapy plays a critical role. The triple-chemotherapy FLOT regimen is now the standard treatment in patients who are able to tolerate it. However, it is associated with significant toxicities, and modifications frequently are needed. In clinical practice, FOLFOX chemotherapy can be used in patients who are not candidates for FLOT. A phase 2 OGSG 1601 study enrolled 37 patients with clinical stage T3/T4a N1-3 M0 gastric cancer who received perioperative doublet chemotherapy with capecitabine and oxaliplatin. At the 3-year follow-up, this study continues to demonstrate good activity of this doublet chemotherapy, with an overall survival rate of 83.8% at 3 years and relapse-free rate of 73%. These results support the use of this doublet in patients who cannot tolerate a more intense chemotherapy regimen. The interpretation of this study is limited by its small size and nonrandomized design. Given what we know about the activity of this regimen in advanced disease, however, these results add to the body of evidence that supports the use of this doublet in select patients.
There have been efforts to augment the activity of perioperative chemotherapy using antiangiogenic agents. In the advanced setting, studies with antiangiogenic agents have had mixed results. Ramucirumab in combination with paclitaxel is FDA-approved in the second-line setting, but a subsequent study in the first line-setting showed no improvement from the addition of ramucirumab.4,7 In the preoperative setting, the role of ramucirumab in combination with chemotherapy was evaluated in a phase 2 study. Although a hint of activity was seen, there was increased toxicity, especially in Siewert type I tumors.8 The phase 2 study by Tang and colleagues enrolled 32 patients with resectable gastric and gastroesophageal juncture adenocarcinoma who received neoadjuvant oxaliplatin, capecitabine, and apatinib. Apatinib is a small-molecule tyrosine kinase inhibitor with highly selective affinity to vascular endothelial growth factor receptor 2. The treatment had manageable toxicity, with hypertension being the most common adverse event, as expected. Early signs of potential clinical efficacy were seen (pathologic complete response and pathologic response were achieved in 6.3% and 34.4% of the patients, respectively), but the true contribution from the addition of apatinib can be established only in a prospective randomized study. For now, chemotherapy alone remains the standard perioperative treatment, although ongoing studies are evaluating the addition of immune checkpoint inhibitors in this setting (NCT03221426, NCT04592913). These types of agents are probably more likely than antiangiogenic agents to become part of standard treatment in the perioperative setting.
Additional References
- Janjigian YY, Shitara K, Moehler M, et al. First-line nivolumab plus chemotherapy versus chemotherapy alone for advanced gastric, gastro-oesophageal junction, and oesophageal adenocarcinoma (CheckMate 649): A randomised, open-label, phase 3 trial. Lancet. 2021;398:27-40. Doi: 10.1016/S0140-6736(21)00797-2 Source
- Van Cutsem E, Moiseyenko VM, Tjulandin S, et al. Phase III study of docetaxel and cisplatin plus fluorouracil compared with cisplatin and fluorouracil as first-line therapy for advanced gastric cancer: A report of the V325 Study Group. J Clin Oncol. 2006;24:4991-4997. Doi: 10.1200/JCO.2006.06.8429 Source
- Al-Batran S-E, Homann N, Pauligk C, et al. Perioperative chemotherapy with fluorouracil plus leucovorin, oxaliplatin, and docetaxel versus fluorouracil or capecitabine plus cisplatin and epirubicin for locally advanced, resectable gastric or gastro-oesophageal junction adenocarcinoma (FLOT4): A randomised, phase 2/3 trial. Lancet. 2019;393:1948-1957. Doi: 10.1016/S0140-6736(18)32557-1 Source0
- Wilke H, Van Cutsem E, Cheul Oh S, et al. RAINBOW: A global, phase 3, randomized, double-blind study of ramucirumab plus paclitaxel versus placebo plus paclitaxel in the treatment of metastatic gastric adenocarcinoma following disease progression on first-line platinum- and fluoropyrimidine-containing combination therapy: Results of a multiple Cox regression analysis adjusting for prognostic factors. J Clin Oncol. 2014;32(15, suppl):1076. Doi: 10.1200/jco.2014.32.15_suppl.4076 Source
- Elimova E, Janjigian YY, Mulcahy M, et al. It is time to stop using epirubicin to treat any patient with gastroesophageal adenocarcinoma. J Clin Oncol. 2017;35:475-477. Doi: 10.1200/JCO.2016.69.7276 Source
- Park H, Jin RU, Wang-Gillam A, et al. FOLFIRINOX for the treatment of advanced gastroesophageal cancers: A phase 2 nonrandomized clinical trial. JAMA Oncol. 2020;6:1231-1240. Doi: 10.1001/jamaoncol.2020.2020 Source
- Fuchs CS, Shitara K, Di Bartolomeo M, et al. RAINFALL: A randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled phase III study of cisplatin (Cis) plus capecitabine (Cape) or 5FU with or without ramucirumab (RAM) as first-line therapy in patients with metastatic gastric or gastroesophageal junction (G-GEJ) adenocarcinoma. J Clin Oncol. 2018;36(4, suppl):5. Doi: 10.1200/JCO.2018.36.4_suppl.5 Source
- Al-Batran S-E, Hofheinz RD, Schmalenberg H, et al. Perioperative ramucirumab in combination with FLOT versus FLOT alone for resectable esophagogastric adenocarcinoma (RAMSES/FLOT7): Results of the phase II-portion—A multicenter, randomized phase II/III trial of the German AIO and Italian GOIM. J Clin Oncol. 2020;38(15, suppl):4501. Doi: 10.1200/JCO.2020.38.15_suppl.4501 Source