Safety of pembrolizumab in recurrent or advanced gastric cancer expressing PD-L1 refractory to platinum and fluoropyrimidine. Issue 9 (1st September 2020)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Mishima, Saori; Kawazoe, Akihito; Shitara, Kohei
• Is Part Of: Expert opinion on drug safety. Volume 19:Issue 9(2020)
• Page Start: 1063
• Page End: 1068
• Publication Date: 2020-09-01
• Subjects: Pembrolizumab -- immunotherapy -- gastric cancer -- immune-mediated adverse event -- safety; Drugs -- Side effects -- Periodicals; Drugs -- Toxicology -- Periodicals; Chemotherapy -- Periodicals; 615.704
• DOI: 10.1080/14740338.2020.1805428
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1474-0338

Abstract

ABSTRACT: Introduction: Pembrolizumab is a highly selective fully human immunoglobulin 4 monoclonal antibody against programmed death 1 (PD-1). Phase II and III trials have demonstrated that pembrolizumab has antitumor activity in previously treated patients with advanced gastric cancer (AGC). Area covered: Pembrolizumab was approved by the US Food and Drug Administration in September 2017 as third-line or later treatment of AGC in patients positive for programmed death ligand 1 (PD-L1). In this article, we review the development of pembrolizumab, its pharmacology, and its safety profile as monotherapy in patients with PD-L1 positive previous treated AGC. Expert opinion: Pembrolizumab has demonstrated durable response and acceptable safety profile in patients receiving two previous courses of systemic chemotherapy. It has become a treatment option in patients with AGC. Currently, there are several ongoing clinical trials of pembrolizumab in combination with cytotoxic chemotherapy or molecular targeting agents AGC.