The treatment of gastric cancer (GC) has seen advancements with the introduction of new targeted therapies and immunotherapies. These novel agents offer hope for patients with advanced or metastatic disease who may not respond to traditional chemotherapy. Here are some recent developments in gastric cancer treatment:
1. HER2-Targeted Therapies: Trastuzumab (Herceptin) is an established treatment for HER2-positive gastric cancer. Newer agents, such as lapatinib and pertuzumab, are also being explored.
2. PD-1/PD-L1 Inhibitors: Immunotherapies like pembrolizumab (Keytruda) and nivolumab (Opdivo) have shown efficacy in treating advanced gastric cancer by unleashing the immune system to attack cancer cells.
3. PARP Inhibitors: Olaparib and other PARP inhibitors are being studied for their potential in treating gastric cancers with DNA repair defects.
4. FGFR Inhibitors: Drugs like pemigatinib and erdafitinib target the FGFR pathway, which is implicated in the growth of some gastric cancers.
5. KRAS G12C Inhibitors: Sotorasib is a new class of targeted therapy that specifically inhibits the KRAS G12C mutation, although its use in gastric cancer is still investigational.
6. CLDN18.2-Targeted Therapies: Claudiximab is a monoclonal antibody that targets CLDN18.2, a protein overexpressed in gastric cancer cells.
Patients with gastric cancer should discuss the latest treatment options with their oncologist, as eligibility for these therapies depends on the specific molecular profile of the tumor and the stage of the disease. Clinical trials may also offer access to novel treatments that are not yet widely available.
