EORTC-1203 GITC "INNOVATION": Integration of trastuzumab (T), with or without pertuzumab (P), into perioperative chemotherapy of HER-2 positive stomach cancer: Overall survival results.
Authors: Anna Dorothea Wagner, Heike I. Grabsch, Murielle E. Mauer, Sylvie Lorenzen, Olivier Bouche, Peter C. Thuss-Patience, Anneli Elme, Markus H. Moehler, Uberto Fumagalli Romario, Yoon-Koo Kang, Gunnar Folprecht, Uwe Marc Martens, Maica del Carmen Galan Guzman, Valerie Boige, Marc Díez Garcia, Guillaume Piessen, Maike Collienne, Stephanie Antunes, Florian Lordick
Journal: Journal of Clinical Oncology (2025)

LBA331 Background: 10-20% of GC are HER-2 positive. The role of perioperative anti-HER2-directed treatment is yet undefined. Methods: This randomized, open-label phase II-trial investigates the benefit of perioperative chemotherapy (CT) alone or in combination with either T or T and P for HER-2+ gastric (GC) and esophagogastric junction cancer (EGJC). 172 patients (pts) with centrally confirmed, positive HER-2 status and resectable GC or EGJC (UICC TNM stages Ib-III) were included. Pts were randomized in a 1:2:2 ratio to: Arm A (CT alone) (35 pts); Arm B (CT+ T [8mg/kg, followed by 6mg every 3 weeks]) (67 pts); Arm C (CT + T+ P [840mg every 3 weeks]) (70 pts). CT was initially cisplatin (80 mg/m 2 d1) and capecitabine (2 x 1000 mg/m 2 /d d1) for 3 cycles before and after surgery. After publication of FLOT-4 (Al-Batran, Lancet 2019), the protocol was amended. CT changed to four cycles FLOT, with FOLFOX or CAPOX as alternative for pts ineligible for FLOT. In arm B and C, T and P were continued beyond CT at the same dose for a total of 17 cycles. Out of 172 pts randomized, 161 fulfilled all key eligibility criteria and started their allocated treatment (per protocol population). Centrally determined major pathological response rates (mpRR) were 33.3%, 53.3% and 37.9% in Arm A: B: C after amending the protocol while, in contrast, they were 8.3%, 16.7% and 12.5% before (ASCO 2024, abstract 4057). Here, we present progression-free-(PFS) and overall survival (OS) after a median follow-up of 4.3 years. Results: In Arm A: B: C, 63.6%, 64.7%, 50.4% and 51.9%, 61.0%, 47.9% of pts were progression-free at 3 and 5 years. As compared to CT alone, HRs for PFS versus CT+T were 0.88 (90% CI, 0.51 to 1.53) and for CT+T+P 1.40 (90% CI, 0.82 to 2.37). Survival rates at 3 and 5 years in arm A: B: C were 75.6%, 76.9%, 65.2% and 60.5%, 67.5% and 62.6 %. As compared to CT alone, HRs for OS for CT+T and CT+T+P were 0.89 (95% CI, 0.42 to 1.88)) and 1.29 (95% CI, 0.62 to 2.66). For results before and after amendment see table. Conclusions: Non-significant advantages in terms of PFS and OS were observed for the addition of T to CT before, but not after the amendment. CT+T+P was detrimental. These results reflect the challenge of using mpRR as surrogate for survival in the perioperative treatment of GC. Clinical trial information: NCT 02205047 . PFS and OS results before and after amendment. Before amendment: Arm PFS (%) at 3 Years (95% CI) Hazard Ratio (95% CI) OS (%) at 3 Years (95% CI) Hazard Ratio (95% CI) CT(N=14) 57.1(28.4, 78.0) 1.00 78.6(47.3, 92.5) 1.00 CT+T(N=26) 64.2(42.5, 79.5) 0.64(0.24, 1.72) 83.6(62.0, 93.5) 0.77(0.25, 2.44) CT+T+P(N=28) 50.4(30.1, 67.6) 1.18(0.48, 2.93) 68.3(46.3, 82.8) 1.28(0.44, 3.75) After amendment: CT(N=19) 68.4(42.8, 84.4) 1.00 73.3(47.2, 87.9) 1.00 CT+T(N=38) 65.0(47.5, 78.0) 1.12(0.46, 2.75) 72.2(54.3, 84.0) 0.99(0.37, 2.69) CT+T+P(N=36) 50.4 (32.9, 65.7) 1.62(0.67, 3.90) 62.2(42.6, 76.8) 1.30(0.49, 3.48)