220O Claudin 18.2 - a novel treatment target in the multicenter, randomized, phase II FAST study, a trial of epirubicin, oxaliplatin, and capecitabine (EOX) with or without the anti-CLDN18.2 antibody IMAB362 as 1st line therapy in advanced gastric and gastroesophageal junction (GEJ) cancer

Final results of the FAST study, an international, multicenter, randomized, phase II trial of epirubicin, oxaliplatin, and capecitabine (EOX) with or without the anti-CLDN18.2 antibody IMAB362 as first-line therapy in patients with advanced CLDN18.2+ gastric and gastroesophageal junction (GEJ) adenocarcinoma

Background: IMAB362, a chimeric monoclonal antibody that mediates specific killing of cancer cells expressing the tight junction protein Claudin18.2 (CLDN18.2) by activation of immune effector mechanisms, has demonstrated single-agent activity and tolerability in patients ( pts) with heavily pretreated gastric cancer. Methods: Pts with advanced/recurrent gastric and GEJ cancer were centrally evaluated for CLDN18.2 expression by immunohistochemistry (CLAUDETECT® 18.2 Histology Kit). Eligible pts had a CLDN18.2 expression of ≥2+ in ≥40% tumor cells, an ECOG PS of 0–1 and were not eligible for trastuzumab. Pts were randomized 1:1 to first-line EOX (epirubicin 50 mg/m2 and oxaliplatin 130 mg/m2…