Dr. Ahn on the Role of Immunotherapy in Treating Patients With Gastric/Gastroesophageal Cancers

Daniel H. Ahn, DO, oncologist and internist, Mayo Clinic, discusses the role of immunotherapy in treating patients with gastric/gastroesophageal cancers.

Immunotherapy is an area of great interest in the field of gastric and gastroesophageal cancers, says Ahn. There has been a positive phase III study with the ATTRACTION-2 study, as well as positive data from CheckMate-032 and KEYNOTE-059. However, there were negative data from KEYNOTE-061, as well as JAVELIN Gastric 300.

Physicians are left wondering where immune checkpoint inhibitors fit into practice. Ahn states that there is a role for this class of drugs. They are a relevant treatment option in the refractory setting, specifically in PD-L1—positive patients with metastatic gastric/gastroesophageal cancers. In PD-L1–negative patients, Ahn cautions against moving pembrolizumab (Keytruda) into second-line or earlier settings.