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KEYNOTE-811 pembrolizumab plus trastuzumab and chemotherapy for HER2+ metastatic gastric or gastroesophageal junction cancer: a double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled phase 3 study
Combination therapy with the anti-HER2 antibody trastuzumab with fluoropyrimidine and platinum is the current standard for patients with HER2+ metastatic gastric or gastroesophageal junction cancer (mG/GEJc). We hypothesize that combination anti–PD-1 and anti-HER2 therapy will result in T-cell activation, augment ADCC, and potentiate antitumor immune response in HER2+ patients. This phase 2 study in HER2+ mG/GEJc demonstrated the safety and preliminary efficacy of trastuzumab/pembrolizumab/chemotherapy; the overall response rate was 87%, and the disease control rate was 100% (Janjigian YY, ASCO GI 2019). KEYNOTE 811 (ClinicalTrials.gov, NCT03615326), a global, multicenter, randomized, placebo-controlled, phase 3 study, is underway.
Key eligibility criteria are age ≥18 years; previously untreated unresectable or metastatic HER2 + (centrally confirmed IHC 3+ or IHC 2+/ISH >2.0) G/GEJ adenocarcinoma; life expectancy >6 months with RECIST v1.1 measurable disease; adequate organ function and performance status. Patients will be randomly assigned 1:1 to receive chemotherapy with pembrolizumab 200 mg IV flat dose or placebo with trastuzumab 6 mg/kg (after 8 mg/kg load) Q3W up to 2 years or until intolerable toxicity or disease progression. Investigator choice chemotherapy will include day 1 cisplatin 80 mg/m 2 IV and 5-fluorouracil 800 mg/m 2 /day IV (days 1-5) or oxaliplatin 130 mg/m 2 IV and capecitabine 1000 mg/m 2 BID days 1-14 (Q3W). Primary endpoints are progression-free survival and overall survival. Secondary endpoints are objective response rate, duration of response, and safety and tolerability. Adverse events are graded per NCI CTCAE v4.0 and will be monitored for 30 or 90 days after treatment. Patients will be followed up for survival. Planned enrollment is approximately 692 patients.
