Dr. Sun on the Use of Ramucirumab/Paclitaxel in Metastatic Gastric Cancer

Weijing Sun, MD, FACP, professor of medicine, The Sprint Professorship of Medicine Oncology, University of Kansas School of Medicine, director, Division of Medical Oncology, associate director, University of Kansas Cancer Center, discusses the ​use of ramucirumab (Cyramza) plus paclitaxel in metastatic gastric cancer.

Findings from the randomized, multicenter, double-blind, placebo-controlled phase 3 RAINBOW trial ​demonstrated significantly improved overall survival with ramucirumab plus paclitaxel compared with placebo/paclitaxel in patients with advanced gastric orgastroesophageal junction adenocarcinoma, says Sun. 

​As such, the combination is now considered a standard of care that is generally well tolerated, ​Sun explains.

 Moreover, patients from North and South America, Europe, Asia, and Australia were included in the trial population. Patients appeared to benefit, irrespective of location, suggesting this regimen has utility across a diverse patient population, Sun concludes.