Year in Review: Clinical Investigator Perspectives on the Most Relevant New Datasets and Advances in Gastroesophageal Cancers — Faculty Presentation — David H Ilson, MD, PhD

Faculty

TARGET AUDIENCE
This activity is intended for medical oncologists, hematology-oncology fellows, surgeons and other healthcare providers involved in the treatment of gastroesophageal cancers.

LEARNING OBJECTIVES

• Evaluate recently presented clinical research findings to determine their effect on the current management of gastric, gastroesophageal junction (GEJ) and esophageal cancers.
• Recognize available clinical research findings with immune checkpoint inhibitors as neoadjuvant, adjuvant or perioperative therapy for patients with resectable gastric, GEJ and esophageal cancers, and consider the current role of these approaches.
• Describe published research data with anti-PD-1/PD-L1 antibodies alone or in combination with other systemic therapies in the management of metastatic gastric, GEJ and esophageal cancers, and optimally integrate these strategies into treatment algorithms.
• Assess available data with monoclonal antibody therapy directed at claudin 18.2 (CLDN18.2) in combination with chemotherapy as first-line treatment for patients with HER2-negative, CLDN18.2-positive gastric or GEJ cancer, and optimally incorporate this approach into management algorithms.
• Review published research findings with established HER2-targeted therapies for patients with HER2-positive gastroesophageal cancers, and assess the current role of various agents and regimens.
• Review the rationale for, available data with and ongoing research studies evaluating novel agents and strategies for patients with gastroesophageal cancers in preparation for potential clinical availability or to enhance trial participation.

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Successful completion of this CME activity, which includes participation in the evaluation component and a post-test, enables the participant to earn up to 1 Medical Knowledge MOC point in the American Board of Internal Medicine’s (ABIM) Maintenance of Certification (MOC) program. Participants will earn MOC points equivalent to the amount of CME credits claimed for the activity. It is the CME activity provider’s responsibility to submit participant completion information to ACCME for the purpose of granting ABIM MOC credit.

Please note, this program has been specifically designed for the following ABIM specialty: medical oncology.

AMERICAN BOARD OF SURGERY (ABS) — CONTINUOUS CERTIFICATION (CC)
Successful completion of this CME activity, which includes participation in the evaluation component and a post-test, enables the learner to earn credit toward the CME and Self-Assessment requirement(s) of the American Board of Surgery’s Continuous Certification program. It is the CME activity provider’s responsibility to submit participant completion information to ACCME for the purpose of granting ABS credit.

Please note, this program has been specifically designed for the following ABS practice area: complex general surgical oncology.

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HOW TO USE THIS CME ACTIVITY
To receive credit for this activity, the participant should review the CME information, watch the video, complete the post-test with a score of 80% or better, and fill out the evaluation.

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FACULTY — Dr Shitara has no relevant financial relationships to disclose. The following faculty reported relevant financial relationships with ineligible entities:

Dr Ilson — Advisory Committees: Amgen Inc, Astellas, AstraZeneca Pharmaceuticals LP, Bayer HealthCare Pharmaceuticals, Bristol Myers Squibb, Daiichi Sankyo Inc, Lilly, Merck, Oncolys BioPharma, Roche Laboratories Inc, Taiho Oncology Inc; Consulting Agreements: Astellas.

MODERATOR — Dr Love  is president and CEO of Research To Practice. Research To Practice receives funds in the form of educational grants to develop CME activities from the following companies: Aadi Bioscience, AbbVie Inc, ADC Therapeutics, Agendia Inc, Alexion Pharmaceuticals, Amgen Inc, Array BioPharma Inc, a subsidiary of Pfizer Inc, Arvinas, Astellas, AstraZeneca Pharmaceuticals LP, Aveo Pharmaceuticals, Bayer HealthCare Pharmaceuticals, BeOne, Biotheranostics Inc, A Hologic Company, Black Diamond Therapeutics Inc, Blueprint Medicines, Boehringer Ingelheim Pharmaceuticals Inc, Bristol Myers Squibb, Catalyst Pharmaceuticals Inc, Celcuity, Clovis Oncology, Coherus BioSciences, Corcept Therapeutics Inc, CTI BioPharma, a Sobi Company, Daiichi Sankyo Inc, Eisai Inc, Elevation Oncology Inc, Exact Sciences Corporation, Exelixis Inc, Genentech, a member of the Roche Group, Genmab US Inc, Geron Corporation, Gilead Sciences Inc, GSK, Helsinn Therapeutics (US) Inc, ImmunoGen Inc, Incyte Corporation, Ipsen Biopharmaceuticals Inc, Jazz Pharmaceuticals Inc, Johnson & Johnson, Karyopharm Therapeutics, Kite, A Gilead Company, Kura Oncology, Legend Biotech, Lilly, MEI Pharma Inc, Merck, Mersana Therapeutics Inc, Mirati Therapeutics Inc, Mural Oncology Inc, Natera Inc, Novartis, Novartis Pharmaceuticals Corporation on behalf of Advanced Accelerator Applications, Novocure Inc, Nuvalent, Nuvation Bio Inc, Pfizer Inc, Pharmacyclics LLC, an AbbVie Company, Puma Biotechnology Inc, Regeneron Pharmaceuticals Inc, Revolution Medicines Inc, Rigel Pharmaceuticals Inc, R-Pharm US, Sanofi, Seagen Inc, Servier Pharmaceuticals LLC, SpringWorks Therapeutics Inc, Stemline Therapeutics Inc, Sumitomo Pharma America, Summit Therapeutics, Syndax Pharmaceuticals, Taiho Oncology Inc, Takeda Pharmaceuticals USA Inc, TerSera Therapeutics LLC, Tesaro, A GSK Company, and Verastem Inc.

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This educational activity contains discussion of published and/or investigational uses of agents that are not indicated by the Food and Drug Administration. Research To Practice does not recommend the use of any agent outside of the labeled indications. Please refer to the official prescribing information for each product for discussion of approved indications, contraindications and warnings. The opinions expressed are those of the presenters and are not to be construed as those of the publisher or grantors.

This activity is supported by educational grants from AstraZeneca Pharmaceuticals LP, BeOne, and Daiichi Sankyo Inc.

Release date: August 2026
Expiration date: August 2027

Dr Ilson
Cruz-Correa M et al. Tislelizumab + chemotherapy in gastric cancer: Long-term RATIONALE-305 randomized trial follow-up. Adv Ther 2026;43(1):165-83. Abstract

Janjigian YY et al. Nivolumab plus chemotherapy as first-line treatment for advanced gastric, gastroesophageal junction, and esophageal adenocarcinoma: 5-year follow-up results from CheckMate 649. Ann Oncol 2026;37(6):787-97. Abstract

Kawazoe A et al. KEYNOTE-811: 6-year median follow-up of pembrolizumab plus trastuzumab and chemotherapy for previously untreated advanced HER2-positive gastric or gastroesophageal junction adenocarcinoma. ASCO 2026;Abstract 4040.

Leone AG et al. STRIDE regimen of tremelimumab and durvalumab as non-operative management strategy of microsatellite instability-high (MSI-H) resectable gastric or gastroesophageal junction adenocarcinoma (GAC/GEJAC): Final results of the cohort 2 of INFINITY study by GONO GI. AACR 2026;Abstract CT230.

Metges JP et al. Pembrolizumab plus chemotherapy versus chemotherapy for advanced esophageal cancer: 5-year extended follow-up for the randomized phase III KEYNOTE-590 study. ESMO Open 2025;10(12):105854. Abstract

Oh DY et al. Nivolumab plus ipilimumab combined with chemotherapy as first-line treatment for HER2-negative unresectable advanced or recurrent gastric/gastroesophageal junction cancer: A randomized phase 3 trial (ATTRACTION-6). ASCO 2026;Abstract 4006.

Samaille T et al. Neoadjuvant nivolumab plus ipilimumab and adjuvant nivolumab in patients with localized microsatellite instability-high (MSI)/mismatch repair deficient (dMMR) oeso-gastric adenocarcinoma: Long-term follow-up of the GERCOR NEONIPIGA phase II study. ASCO 2026;Abstract 4099.

Stein A et al. Perioperative pembrolizumab, trastuzumab and FLOT in HER2-positive localized esophagogastric adenocarcinoma: A phase 2 trial. Nat Med 2025;31(12):4197-204. Abstract

Tabernero J et al. Final overall survival (OS) and the association of pathological outcomes with event-free survival (EFS) in MATTERHORN: A randomised, phase III study of durvalumab (D) plus 5-fluorouracil, leucovorin, oxaliplatin and docetaxel (FLOT) in resectable gastric/gastroesophageal (G/GEJ) adenocarcinoma. ESMO 2025;Abstract LBA81.

Wainberg ZA et al. Efficacy of durvalumab and safety by treatment period in MATTERHORN: A randomized, phase 3 study of durvalumab plus 5-fluorouracil, leucovorin, oxaliplatin and docetaxel (FLOT) in resectable gastric/gastroesophageal junction (G/GEJ) adenocarcinoma. ASCO 2026;Abstract 4070.

Dr Shitara
Elimova E et al. Zanidatamab + chemotherapy (CT) ± tislelizumab for first-line (1L) HER2-positive (HER2+) locally advanced, unresectable, or metastatic gastroesophageal adenocarcinoma (mGEA): Primary analysis from HERIZON-GEA-01. Gastrointestinal Cancers Symposium 2026;Abstract LBA285.

Janjigian YY et al. First-line (1L) trastuzumab deruxtecan (T-DXd)–based regimens in advanced HER2-expressing gastric cancer (GC), gastroesophageal junction adenocarcinoma (GEJA), or esophageal adenocarcinoma (EA): Safety results from DESTINY-Gastric03 (DG-03) Part 2 arms D and F, and Part 4. ASCO 2026;Abstract 4022.

Lu Z et al. Izalontamab brengitecan (iza-bren) versus chemotherapy in patients with recurrent or metastatic esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC): A multicenter, randomized, open-label, phase III study. ASCO 2026;Abstract 4008.

Rha SY et al. Zanidatamab + chemotherapy (CT) ± tislelizumab for first-line (1L) HER2-positive (HER2+) locally advanced or metastatic gastroesophageal adenocarcinoma (mGEA): PD-L1 subgroup analysis from HERIZON-GEA-01. ASCO 2026;Abstract 4010.

Shah M et al. ARTEMIDE-Gastric01: A phase 3 randomized study of rilvegostomig with fluoropyrimidine and trastuzumab deruxtecan (T-DXd) as first-line (1L) treatment for locally advanced or metastatic HER2-positive gastric or gastroesophageal junction cancer (GC/GEJC). Gastrointestinal Cancers Symposium 2026;Abstract TPS460.

Shitara K et al. CLARITY-Gastric01: A randomized phase 3 study of sonesitatug vedotin (sone ve), a claudin 18.2 (CLDN18.2)-targeted antibody-drug conjugate, in second- or later-line (2L+) advanced gastric or gastroesophageal junction cancer (GJ/GEJC). Gastrointestinal Cancers Symposium 2026;Abstract TPS462.

Shitara K et al. Phase 2 ILUSTRO trial of 1L zolbetuximab plus mFOLFOX6 and nivolumab in patients with CLDN18.2+ locally advanced (LA) unresectable or metastatic gastric or gastroesophageal junction (mG/GEJ) adenocarcinoma. Gastrointestinal Cancers Symposium 2026;Abstract LBA284.

Shitara K et al. Sonesitatug vedotin (Sone-Ve) monotherapy in patients (pts) with claudin 18.2-positive (CLDN18.2+) advanced or metastatic gastric or gastroesophageal junction (GEJ) cancers: Data from CLARITY-PanTumor01. ASCO 2026;Abstract 4023.

Shitara K et al. Zolbetuximab + pembrolizumab and chemotherapy as first-line treatment for patients with CLDN18.2-positive, HER2-negative, PD-L1-positive locally advanced unresectable or metastatic G/GEJ adenocarcinoma: Phase 3, double-blind, randomized trial (LUCERNA). Gastrointestinal Cancers Symposium 2026;Abstract TPS473.

Shitara K et al. Trastuzumab deruxtecan or ramucirumab plus paclitaxel in gastric cancer. N Engl J Med 2025;393(4):336-48. Abstract