Dr. Fuchs on Angiogenesis in Gastric Cancer

Charles S. Fuchs, MD, MPH, director, Gastrointestinal Cancer Center, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, discusses targeting angiogenesis in the treatment of gastric cancer.

In the AVAGAST trial, patients were randomized to chemotherapy or chemotherapy plus bevacizumab in the frontline. Results from the trial indicated a benefit to progression-free survival (PFS) and response, but no significant effect on overall survival (OS).

Fuchs says he was involved in a randomized study of ramucirumab, a monoclonal antibody against VEGFR2, compared with placebo in the second-line. Treatment with ramucirumab demonstrated significant improvement to OS and PFS, as well as a trivial toxicity profile.