Targeting PD-L1 in Gastric Cancer

Immune checkpoint inhibitors targeting programmed death protein 1 (PD-1; including nivolumab, pembrolizumab, and tislelizumab) are combined with first-line chemotherapy in advanced gastric cancer, but the survival benefit is limited to patients testing positive for anti–programmed death-ligand 1 (PD-L1).

Investigators in China report results of the industry-sponsored, randomized, placebo-controlled GEMSTONE-303 trial evaluating the addition of the anti–PD-L1 agent sugemalimab to first line chemotherapy in patients with advanced gastric cancer and a PD-L1 combined positive score (CPS) >5%. Of the 479 patients treated with capecitabine/oxaliplatin combined with either sugemalimab or placebo, 90% had prior gastrectomy, 39% had hepatic metastase…