Pembrolizumab plus chemotherapy for previously untreated, HER2-negative unresectable or metastatic advanced gastric or gastroesophageal junction (G/GEJ) adenocarcinoma: KEYNOTE-859.

TPS263 Background: For patients with unresectable, locally advanced recurrent or metastatic G/GEJ cancer, the standard of care includes a fluoropyrimidine plus a platinum-based agent as first-line therapy. The PD-1 inhibitor pembrolizumab has demonstrated durable antitumor activity in this patient population across lines of therapy. Herein, we describe the randomized, double-blind, phase 3 KEYNOTE-859 trial (NCT03675737) of first-line pembrolizumab plus chemotherapy in patients with advanced G/GEJ adenocarcinoma. Methods: Patients with histologically or cytologically confirmed, locally advanced unresectable or metastatic G/GEJ adenocarcinoma with known PD-L1 expression status, HER2-negative disease, measurable disease per RECIST v1.1, and ECOG performance status of 0 or 1 will be randomly assigned 1:1 to receive pembrolizumab plus chemotherapy or placebo plus chemotherapy. Randomization will be stratified by geographic region (Europe/Israel/North America/Australia vs Asia vs rest of world), PD-L1 tumor expression status (combined positive score < 1 vs ≥1), and combination chemotherapy (FP vs CAPOX). Pembrolizumab or placebo will be administered at 200 mg IV every 3 weeks (Q3W). The chemotherapy regimen will be investigator’s choice of FP (continuous infusion of 5-fluorouracil [800 mg/m2/day on days 1-5 of each cycle] plus IV cisplatin [80 mg/m2] Q3W) or CAPOX (oral capecitabine [1000 mg/m2 twice daily on days 1-14 of each cycle] plus IV oxaliplatin [130 mg/m2 on day 1 of each cycle] Q3W). Duration of cisplatin or oxaliplatin may be capped at 6 cycles per local country guidelines; treatment with 5-fluorouracil or capecitabine may continue per protocol. Treatment with pembrolizumab or placebo will continue for ≤35 administrations (~2 years) or until disease progression, unacceptable toxicity, intercurrent illness that prevents further administration of treatment, investigator decision, or noncompliance. Imaging will be performed at screening and subsequently every 6 weeks until disease progression, start of new anticancer treatment, withdrawal of consent, or death. Adverse events will be monitored throughout the study from the time of randomization to 30 days after the last dose of study treatment (90 days for serious adverse events). The dual primary end points are OS and PFS per RECIST v1.1 as assessed by blinded independent central review (BICR). Secondary end points include ORR and DOR per RECIST v1.1 as assessed by BICR, safety, and tolerability. Enrollment is ongoing. Clinical trial information: NCT03675737.