Title:Immunotherapy in Gastric Carcinoma: Current Status and Future Perspectives
VOLUME: 2 ISSUE: 2
Author(s):Lionel Kankeu Fonkoua and Nelson S Yee
Affiliation:Penn State Hershey Cancer Institute, 500 University Drive, Hershey, PA 17033-0850, USA.
Keywords:Adoptive immunotherapy, gastric carcinoma, precision therapy, ramucirumab, therapeutic antibodies, trastuzumab,
tumor cell-based vaccines, tumor microenvironment.
Abstract:Background: Gastric carcinoma (GC) is a globally prevalent malignant disease and it is associated
with a high mortality rate. Recent advances have been made in development of immunotherapies
that aim at modulating the patients’ immune system and the tumor-associated microenvironment.
Methods: The field of cancer immunology that is pertinent to GC was provided. The basis for immunotherapeutic
approaches to advanced GC was reviewed. Results of the clinical studies obtained from
the literature in PubMed as well as the ongoing clinical trials as listed in www.ClinicalTrials.gov were described and discussed.
Results: One major approach of immunotherapy in GC employs therapeutic antibodies that target mitogenic signaling
pathways, angiogenesis, and immune checkpoint molecules. Clinical studies have demonstrated efficacy using trastuzumab
and ramucirumab that target human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 and vascular endothelial growth factor
receptor 2, respectively. Other approaches involve adoptive transfer of cellular mediators of immune response as well as
tumor cell-based vaccines. Conclusion: The success of antibody-based therapy has been limited by genetic heterogeneity
of GC and plasticity of the molecular targets. Immunotherapeutic approach as monotherapy in GC has not produced the
desirable clinical outcomes. Novel strategies that target multiple driver mutations of gastric tumorigenesis and combination
of immuno-, chemo-, and radiation therapy will hopefully create new opportunity to improve the treatment outcomes.
An integrative approach using molecular tumor profiling and targeted immunotherapeutics is expected to make a positive
impact towards the goal of precision therapy in this highly lethal malignancy.
