Dr. Catenacci on Study of Margetuximab Plus Pembrolizumab in Gastric/GEJ Cancer

Daniel Catenacci, MD, medical oncologist, assistant professor of medicine, University of Chicago Medicine, discusses a study of margetuximab (MGAH22-10) plus pembrolizumab (Keytruda) in gastroesophageal junction (GEJ) or gastric adenocarcinoma.

The anti-HER2 monoclonal antibody, margetuximab, is being studied in combination with pembrolizumab as a treatment for patients with advanced HER2-positive GEJ or gastric adenocarcinoma. Margetuximab has an optimized Fc domain to increase affinity for activating CD16A-F allele, says Catenacci, and preclinical data suggests activity in HER2-positive patients. Additionally, pembrolizumab has demonstrated durable responses in this population.

In a phase Ib study assessing the safety and toxicity of the combination, there were no unforeseen events of toxicities. Catenacci says that most of the toxicities were attributed to the anti—PD-1 agent pembrolizumab. This combination has no moved onto a phase II study with a primary endpoint of response rate.