Efficacy and safety of albumin-bound docetaxel vs. docetaxel in patients with previously treated advanced gastric or gastroesophageal junction adenocarcinoma: A multicenter, randomized, phase II study.
Authors: Zhiqiang Wang, Dongliang Chen, Hongli Li, Mudan Yang, Rongbo Lin, Ying Cheng, Zhiwei Li, Xiwen Huang, Wei Wang, Hui Li, Hao Liu, Youguo Dai, Jufeng Wang, Xin Zhao, Yan Yang, Xiujuan Qu, Jun Zhao, Zhe Zhang, Yanyan Zeng, Rui-Hua Xu
Journal: Journal of Clinical Oncology (2025)

333 Background: Docetaxel has demonstrated promising activity in gastric cancer, both as monotherapy and in combination with other agents. Albumin-bound docetaxel (HB1801) is a new kind of taxane and has many advantages compared with docetaxel. Previous phase I study has demonstrated that HB1801 showed preliminary efficacy in patients with gastric cancer. Methods: In this phase II study, eligible patients were aged 18-75 years with histologically confirmed gastric or gastroesophageal junction (G/GEJ) adenocarcinoma, who progressed on at least first line of combined chemotherapy of platinum and fluorouracil. Patients were randomized (1:1) to receive HB1801 (100 mg/m 2 ) or docetaxel (Taxotere, 75 mg/m 2 ) administered every 3 weeks by intravenous infusion. Stratified factors included previous treatment with immunotherapy (yes or no) and ECOG PS (0 or 1). Primary endpoint was progression free survival (PFS). Results: As of June 25, 2024, 128 patients were randomized to the HB1801 group ( n =65) or the docetaxel group ( n =63). The two groups were comparable on baseline characteristics. Overall, the median age was 59.0 (range 27-75) years, 106 (82.8%) patients had ECOG PS of 1. 76 (59.4%) patients had received previous treatment with immunotherapy. 76 (59.4%) patients had ≥ 2 metastatic sites. Median PFS was 4.0 months (95%CI 2.8-4.2) with HB1801 versus 2.7 months (95%CI 1.8-3.0) with docetaxel, HR = 0.81(95%CI 0.53, 1.21). Objective response rate and disease control rate were 21.5% (1CR and 13 PRs, 95%CI 12.3-33.5) and 56.9% (20 SDs, 95%CI 44.0-69.2) in the HB1801 group, compared with 14.3% (1 CR and 8 PRs, 95%CI 6.8-25.4) and 42.9% (17 SDs, 95%CI 30.5-56.0) in the docetaxel group. Median overall survival was 11.3 months with HB1801 versus 7.8 months with docetaxel (HR = 0.59 [95%CI 0.35, 1.01], p=0.025). Treatment-related adverse events (TRAEs) occurred in 93.8% of patients receiving HB1801, and 93.7% of patients receiving docetaxel. Alopecia (46.2% vs. 39.7%), fatigue (43.1% vs 23.8%), anemia (40.0% vs 39.7%), hypoalbuminemia (29.2% vs 12.7%), decreased appetite (21.5% vs 12.7%), peripheral edema (16.9% vs 12.7%) and nausea (15.4% vs 19.0%) were the most common TRAEs in the HB1801 group and the docetaxel group. 20 patients (30.8%) in the HB1801 group and 19 patients (30.2%) in the docetaxel group experienced ≥grade 3 TRAEs, with the most common being anemia and fatigue. 3 patients in the docetaxel group experienced treatment emergent adverse events (TEAEs) leading to death, which one was considered to be treatment-related. No patients in the HB1801 group had TEAEs leading to death. No new safety signal was observed in HB1801 group. Conclusions: Compared with Taxotere, HB1801 results in 41% reduction in risk of death with a manageable safety profile in patients with previously treated advanced G/GEJ cancer. Clinical trial information: NCT05705635 .