Related Experiment Video

Updated: Feb 1, 2026

Building Up a High-throughput Screening Platform to Assess the Heterogeneity of HER2 Gene Amplification in Breast Cancers
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Treatment Patterns and Prognostic Factors of Anti-HER2 Therapy in HER2-positive Advanced/Recurrent Gastric Cancer

Noriko Wada1, Yukinori Kurokawa1, Tsuyoshi Takahashi1

  • 1Department of Gastroenterological Surgery, The University of Osaka Graduate School of Medicine, Osaka, Japan.

Anticancer Research
|January 30, 2026
PubMed
Abstract

Insights

Sustained anti-HER2 therapy significantly improves survival in advanced HER2-positive gastric cancer. Adjusting treatment to manage toxicity may enhance patient outcomes with trastuzumab-based regimens.

Area of Science:

  • Oncology
  • Gastroenterology
  • Pharmacology

Background:

  • Human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2) overexpression occurs in 10-20% of gastric cancers.
  • HER2-positive tumors exhibit aggressive behavior, but anti-HER2 therapies improve outcomes.
  • Real-world data on anti-HER2 treatment delivery and tolerance are limited.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To evaluate the impact of sustained anti-HER2 therapy on overall survival in advanced HER2-positive gastric cancer.
  • To identify prognostic factors influencing survival in this patient subgroup.
  • To provide real-world insights into treatment patterns and outcomes.

Main Methods:

  • Retrospective review of 43 patients with advanced/recurrent HER2-positive gastric or gastroesophageal junction cancer.
  • Analysis of clinical features, laboratory data, and treatment courses.
  • Overall survival (OS) analyzed by Kaplan-Meier and prognostic factors by Cox regression.

Main Results:

  • Median OS was 29.6 months; 3- and 5-year survival rates were 36% and 29%.
  • Longer OS correlated with HER2 3+ status, gastrectomy, single metastatic site, normal LDH, low neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio, and low mGPS.
  • Sustained anti-HER2 therapy (≥260 days) significantly improved survival (p<0.001).
  • Elevated LDH, mGPS=2, and short anti-HER2 exposure independently predicted poorer survival.

Conclusions:

  • Sustained anti-HER2 therapy is strongly associated with improved survival in HER2-positive gastric cancer.
  • Optimizing treatment strategies to manage toxicity can help patients continue trastuzumab-based therapy for better outcomes.
Keywords:
HER2-positive gastric canceranti-HER2 therapytrastuzumabtrastuzumab deruxtecan

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