Neoadjuvant docetaxel, oxaliplatin and S‑1 (DOS) combination chemotherapy for patients with resectable adenocarcinoma of esophagogastric junction

Adjuvant treatment for locally advanced gastric cancer: an Asian perspective

Standard adjuvant treatment for locally advanced gastric cancer (LAGC) is regionally different. Whereas perioperative chemotherapy is the standard in Western populations, D2 gastrectomy followed by adjuvant chemotherapy has been the standard in East Asia. Recently, the pivotal phase 3 PRODIGY and RESOLVE studies have demonstrated survival benefits of adding neoadjuvant chemotherapy to surgery followed by adjuvant chemotherapy over up-front surgery followed by adjuvant chemotherapy in Asian patients. Based on these results, neoadjuvant chemotherapy is considered one of the viable options for patients with LAGC. In this review, various aspects of neoadjuvant chemotherapy will be discussed for its optimal application in Asia. Candidates for neoadjuvant chemotherapy should be carefully chosen in consideration of the inaccurate aspects of radiological clinical staging and its potential benefit over up-front surgery followed by a decision on adjuvant chemotherapy according to the pathological stage. Efforts should continuously be made to optimally apply neoadjuvant chemotherapy to patients with LAGC, considering various factors, including a more accurate radiological assessment of the tumor burden and the optimization of post-operative chemotherapy. Future neoadjuvant trials involving novel agents for Asian patients should be designed based on proven Asian regimens rather than adopting Western regimens.

Short-term outcomes of preoperative chemotherapy with docetaxel, oxaliplatin, and S-1 for gastric cancer with extensive lymph node metastasis (JCOG1704)

BACKGROUND

The prognosis for marginally resectable gastric cancer with extensive lymph node metastasis (ELM) remains unfavorable, even after R0 resection. To assess the safety and efficacy of preoperative docetaxel, oxaliplatin, and S-1 (DOS), we conducted a multicenter phase II trial.

METHODS

Eligibility criteria included histologically proven HER2-negative gastric adenocarcinoma with bulky nodal (bulky N) involvement around major branched arteries or para-aortic node (PAN) metastases. Patients received three cycles of docetaxel (40 mg/m2, day 1), oxaliplatin (100 mg/m2, day 1), and S-1 (80-120 mg/body, days 1-14), followed by gastrectomy with D2 plus PAN dissection. Subsequently, patients underwent postoperative chemotherapy with S-1 for 1 year. The primary endpoint was major (grade ≥ 2a) pathological response rate (pRR) according to the Japanese Classification of Gastric Carcinoma criteria.

RESULTS

Between October 2018 and March 2022, 47 patients (bulky N, 20; PAN, 17; both, 10) were enrolled in the trial. One patient was ineligible. Another declined any protocol treatments before initiation. Among the 45 eligible patients who initiated DOS chemotherapy, 44 (98%) completed 3 cycles and 42 (93%) underwent R0 resection. Major pRR and pathological complete response rates among the 46 eligible patients, including the patient who declined treatment, were 57% (26/46) and 24% (11/46), respectively. Common grade 3 or 4 toxicities were neutropenia (24%), anorexia (16%), febrile neutropenia (9%), and diarrhea (9%). No treatment-related deaths occurred.

CONCLUSIONS

Preoperative chemotherapy with DOS yielded favorable pathological responses with an acceptable toxicity profile. This multimodal approach is highly promising for treating gastric cancer with ELM.

Protocol digest of a randomized controlled adaptive Phase II/III trial of neoadjuvant chemotherapy for Japanese patients with oesophagogastric junction adenocarcinoma: Japan Clinical Oncology Group Study JCOG2203 (NEO-JPEG)

Treatment strategies for oesophagogastric junction adenocarcinoma have not been standardized despite its poor prognosis due to differences in the incidence rates between Western countries and Asia. This randomized Phase II/III trial was initiated in June 2023 to determine which neoadjuvant chemotherapy regimen, docetaxel, oxaliplatin and S-1 or fluorouracil, oxaliplatin and docetaxel, is a more promising treatment in Phase II and confirm the superiority of neoadjuvant chemotherapy with docetaxel, oxaliplatin and S-1 or fluorouracil, oxaliplatin and docetaxel followed by surgery and postoperative chemotherapy over upfront surgery and postoperative chemotherapy in terms of overall survival in patients with Clinical Stage III or IVA oesophagogastric junction adenocarcinoma in Phase III. A total of 460 patients, including 150 patients in Phase II and 310 patients in Phase III, are planned to be enrolled from 85 hospitals in Japan over 5 years. This trial has been registered in the Japan Registry of Clinical Trials as jRCTs031230182 (https://jrct.niph.go.jp/latest-detail/jRCTs031230182).

Computed tomography-based nomogram of Siewert type II/III adenocarcinoma of esophagogastric junction to predict response to docetaxel, oxaliplatin and S-1

BACKGROUND

Neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NAC) has become the standard care for advanced adenocarcinoma of esophagogastric junction (AEG), although a part of the patients cannot benefit from NAC. There are no models based on baseline computed tomography (CT) to predict response of Siewert type II or III AEG to NAC with docetaxel, oxaliplatin and S-1 (DOS).

AIM

To develop a CT-based nomogram to predict response of Siewert type II/III AEG to NAC with DOS.

METHODS

One hundred and twenty-eight consecutive patients with confirmed Siewert type II/III AEG underwent CT before and after three cycles of NAC with DOS, and were randomly and consecutively assigned to the training cohort (TC) (n = 94) and the validation cohort (VC) (n = 34). Therapeutic effect was assessed by disease-control rate and progressive disease according to the Response Evaluation Criteria in Solid Tumors (version 1.1) criteria. Possible prognostic factors associated with responses after DOS treatment including Siewert classification, gross tumor volume (GTV), and cT and cN stages were evaluated using pretherapeutic CT data in addition to sex and age. Univariate and multivariate analyses of CT and clinical features in the TC were performed to determine independent factors associated with response to DOS. A nomogram was established based on independent factors to predict the response. The predictive performance of the nomogram was evaluated by Concordance index (C-index), calibration and receiver operating characteristics curve in the TC and VC.

RESULTS

Univariate analysis showed that Siewert type (52/55 vs 29/39, P = 0.005), pretherapeutic cT stage (57/62 vs 24/32, P = 0.028), GTV (47.3 ± 27.4 vs 73.2 ± 54.3, P = 0.040) were significantly associated with response to DOS in the TC. Multivariate analysis of the TC also showed that the pretherapeutic cT stage, GTV and Siewert type were independent predictive factors related to response to DOS (odds ratio = 4.631, 1.027 and 7.639, respectively; all P < 0.05). The nomogram developed with these independent factors showed an excellent performance to predict response to DOS in the TC and VC (C-index: 0.838 and 0.824), with area under the receiver operating characteristic curve of 0.838 and 0.824, respectively. The calibration curves showed that the practical and predicted response to DOS effectively coincided.

CONCLUSION

A novel nomogram developed with pretherapeutic cT stage, GTV and Siewert type predicted the response of Siewert type II/III AEG to NAC with DOS.

The impact of neoadjuvant chemotherapy on the clinical efficacy and serum tumor marker levels in patients undergoing radical surgery for gastric cancer

The objective of this article is to study the impact of neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NAC) on the clinical efficacy and serum tumor marker levels in patients undergoing radical surgery for gastric cancer (GC). Thirty patients who underwent routine radical surgery for GC in our hospital from January 2020 to June 2021 were included in the control group. Thirty patients who underwent radical surgery for GC after receiving NAC from July 2021 to December 2022 were included in the observation group. The treatment outcomes of the observation group were assessed and analyzed. The surgical indicators, tumor markers, Karnofsky Performance Status (KPS), and occurrence of adverse reactions were compared between the 2 groups. Comparisons were made between the 2 groups in terms of surgical duration, number of lymph node dissections, intraoperative blood loss, time to postoperative ambulation, length of hospital stay, and time to postoperative passage of flatus (P > .05). The observation group had a higher proportion of R0 resection at the surgical margin compared to the control group (P < .05). The serum tumor markers of the 2 groups were compared before treatment (P > .05). After treatment, the levels of serum carcinoembryonic antigen, alpha-fetoprotein, cancer antigen 125, and carbohydrate antigen 72-4 decreased in both groups, and the observation group showed a greater reduction in these tumor marker levels compared to the control group (P < .05). The KPS scores of the 2 groups were compared before treatment (P > .05). After treatment, the KPS scores increased in both groups, with the observation group showing a higher improvement compared to the control group (P < .05). The overall incidence of adverse reactions, including incision infection, pleural effusion, pulmonary infection, intestinal obstruction, and gastric emptying disorders, was lower in the observation group (6.67%) compared to the control group (26.67%) (P < .05). The combination of NAC with radical surgery for GC is safe and feasible. It can significantly increase the R0 resection rate, effectively improve the levels of serum tumor markers, enhance patient's quality of life, and result in fewer surgical adverse reactions.

Surgical and Perioperative Treatments for Esophagogastric Junction Cancer

Esophagogastric junction cancer (EGJC) is a rare malignant disease that occurs in the gastroesophageal transition zone. In recent years, its incidence has been rapidly increasing not only in Western countries but also in East Asia, and it has been attracting the attention of both clinicians and researchers. EGJC has a worse prognosis than gastric cancer (GC) and is characterized by complex lymphatic drainage pathways in the mediastinal and abdominal regions. EGJC was previously treated in the same way as GC or esophageal cancer, but, in recent years, it has been treated as an independent malignant disease, and treatment focusing only on EGJC has been developed. A recent multicenter prospective study revealed the frequency of lymph node metastasis by station and established the optimal extent of lymph node dissection. In perioperative treatment, the combination of multi-drug chemotherapy, radiation therapy, molecular targeted therapy, and immunotherapy is expected to improve the prognosis. In this review, we summarize previous clinical trials and their important evidence on surgical and perioperative treatments for EGJC.

Neoadjuvant chemotherapy for locally advanced gastric cancer in Japan: Consensus meeting at the 77th general meeting of the Japanese Society of Gastroenterological Surgery

Treatment strategy for locally advanced gastric cancer differs worldwide. Neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NAC) is considered one of the promising treatment options for locally advanced gastric cancer, even in Japan, and clinical trials have been conducted or are ongoing. A consensus meeting was organized at the 77th general meeting of the Japanese Society of Gastroenterological Surgery in 2022, in which the current status and future prospects of NAC for locally advanced gastric cancer were discussed. Participants at the meeting looked forward to the results of the JCOG1509 trial, providing solid evidence regarding NAC. The optimal indications and regimens for NAC were also debated. Patients with cStage III gastric cancer are the main targets of NAC in Japan, and a doublet regimen of S-1 and oxaliplatin was preferred by the participants. However, the feasibility of a triplet regimen with S-1, oxaliplatin, and docetaxel, and that with 5-FU, leucovorin, oxaliplatin, and docetaxel has been demonstrated, and these could become treatment options in Japan. Other points of discussion include perioperative chemotherapy to avoid peritoneal recurrence and for patients with dMMR/MSI-high tumors. The panel regarded NAC as a promising treatment option, and NAC will become the standard treatment for cStage III gastric cancer in Japan if an ongoing clinical trial successfully demonstrates its efficacy.

Essential updates 2021/2022: Perioperative and surgical treatments for gastric and esophagogastric junction cancer

In recent years, important clinical trials for gastric cancer (GC) and esophagogastric junction cancer (EGJC) have been reported, changing the strategies of surgical and perioperative treatment. Although laparoscopic gastrectomy has already been shown to be effective for early-stage cancer, recent evidence from both Asia (JLSSG0901, CLASS-01 and KLASS-02) and Europe (LOGICA and STOMACH trials) has demonstrated that it is useful for advanced GC. Robotic surgery has been rapidly gaining popularity in recent years, and randomized controlled trials are ongoing to evaluate its efficacy. A prospective nationwide multicenter study mapped sites with frequent metastasis and revealed lymphatic flow specific to EGJC, thus establishing the optimal lymph node dissection area and surgical approach based on esophageal involvement. Perioperative chemotherapy, the mainstay of treatment in Europe, also has been established in Asia by the PRODIGY and RESOLVE studies. New clinical trials have been conducted to evaluate the efficacy of combining immunotherapy or molecular-targeted therapy with perioperative chemotherapy or chemoradiotherapy. In this review, we present important recent clinical trials regarding the treatment of GC and EGJC published in 2021 or 2022.

Phase 2 trial of neoadjuvant docetaxel, oxaliplatin, and S-1 for clinical stage III gastric or esophagogastric junction adenocarcinoma

Background

Although perioperative treatment has been the standard of care for resectable gastric cancer in the West, postoperative adjuvant chemotherapy is still the standard in Japan. We conducted the first phase 2 trial to investigate the efficacy and safety of neoadjuvant docetaxel, oxaliplatin, and S-1 (DOS) chemotherapy for cStage III gastric or esophagogastric junction (EGJ) adenocarcinoma in Japan.

Methods

Eligibility criteria included cStage III adenocarcinoma of the stomach or EGJ. Patients received docetaxel (40 mg/m2, day 1), oxaliplatin (100 mg/m2, day 1), or S-1 (80 mg/m2, days 1-14) during a 3-week cycle. After two or three cycles of DOS, patients underwent surgical resection. The primary endpoint was progression-free survival (PFS).

Results

Between June 2015 and March 2019, 50 patients were enrolled from four institutions. Of 48 eligible patients (37 gastric and 11 EGJ adenocarcinoma), 42 (88%) completed two or three DOS cycles. Grade 3-4 neutropenia and diarrhea occurred in 69% and 19% of patients, respectively, but there were no treatment-related deaths. R0 resection was achieved in 44 (92%) patients, and the pathological response rate (≥ grade 1b) was 63% (30/48). The 3-year PFS, overall survival, and disease-specific survival rates were 54.2%, 68.7%, and 75.8%, respectively.

Conclusion

Neoadjuvant DOS chemotherapy had a sufficient antitumor effect and tolerable safety profile in patients with gastric or EGJ adenocarcinoma. The survival benefit of a neoadjuvant strategy using our DOS regimen should be validated in phase 3 trials.

Neoadjuvant Chemotherapy in Asian Patients With Locally Advanced Gastric Cancer

Presently, surgery is the only treatment approach for gastric cancer and improving the prognosis of locally advanced gastric cancer is one of the key factors in promoting gastric cancer survival benefit. The MAGIC study was the first to demonstrate the efficacy of neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NAC) in European countries. In recent years, several clinical trials have provided evidence for the use of NAC in Asian patients with locally advanced gastric cancer. However, clinical practice guidelines vary between Asian and non-Asian populations. Optimal NAC regimens, proper target populations, and predictors of NAC outcomes in Asian patients are still under investigation. Herein, we summarized the current progress in the administration of NAC in Asian patients with gastric cancer.