Findings suggest that pembrolizumab, added to trastuzumab and chemotherapy, enhances progression-free survival in HER2-positive gastro-esophageal cancer.
1. Progression-free survival was significantly greater among patients in the pembrolizumab group compared to placebo (10.0 vs. 8.1 months).
2. 1% of patients in each group experienced treatment-related mortality.
Evidence Rating Level: 1 (Excellent)
Study Rundown: Limited evidence exists on combined PD-1 and HER2 blockade with chemotherapy in HER2-positive gastro-esophageal cancer. This randomized controlled trial aimed to assess the safety and efficacy of adding pembrolizumab or placebo to the current standard-of-care (fluorouracil plus cisplatin or capecitabine plus oxaliplatin) among patients with HER2-positive gastric or gastro-esophageal cancer. The primary outcome was progression-free survival, while the key secondary outcome was overall survival. According to study results, pembrolizumab significantly improved progression-free survival compared to placebo, particularly in tumours with PD-L1 combined score above 1. Although well done, this study was limited by ongoing overall survival follow-up and the need for final analysis.
Click to read the study in The Lancet
Relevant Reading: Pembrolizumab for Persistent, Recurrent, or Metastatic Cervical Cancer
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