PD-L1 expression and survival in unresectable/recurrent gastric cancer treated by 1st-line treatment without immune checkpoint inhibitors: JCOG1013A1
Year: 2026
Type: article
Abstract: BACKGROUND: The prognostic significance of PD-L1 expression in unresectable/recurrent gastric cancer treated by first-line chemotherapy without an immune checkpoint inhibitor (ICI) remains unclear. The phase III trial JCOG1013 demonstrated no overall survival (OS) or progression-free survival (PFS) benefit of docetaxel/cisplatin/S-1 over cisplatin/S-1. This ancillary analysis of JCOG 1013 evaluated the prognostic value of PD-L1 expression. METHODS: PD-L1 expression was assessed in pretreatment tumor specimens using the Dako 28-8 pharmDx assay. Combined positive score (CPS) and tumor proportion score (TPS) were calculated. PD-L1 positivity was defined as CPS ≥ 5 or TPS ≥ 1%. Univariable and multivariable analyses were performed for OS and PFS. RESULTS: Among 741 patients enrolled in JCOG1013, 540 patients were included. In univariable analyses, neither CPS ≥ 5 nor TPS ≥ 1% was significantly associated with OS or PFS. In multivariable analyses, CPS ≥ 5 was not significantly associated with OS (HR 0.86, 95% CI 0.71-1.04; p = 0.127) or PFS (HR 0.92, 95% CI 0.77-1.11; p = 0.392); however, TPS ≥ 1% was significantly associated with longer OS (HR 0.78, 95% CI 0.62-0.97; p = 0.028) and PFS (HR 0.76, 95% CI 0.62-0.94; p = 0.012). CONCLUSIONS: TPS ≥ 1% is an independent favorable prognostic factor for survival in patients with unresectable/recurrent gastric cancer receiving chemotherapy alone. CLINICAL TRIAL REGISTRATION: UMIN000007652.
Source: British Journal of Cancer
Authors: Hidekazu Hirano, Yasuhide Yamada, Kengo Nagashima, Nobuyoshi Hiraoka, Shigeki Sekine, Naoki Takahashi, Mizutomo Azuma, Satoru Iwasa, Keisuke Kanato, Nozomu Machida, Takahiro Kinoshita, Hiroaki Hata, Hisato Kawakami, Daisuke Takahari, Toshiyasu Ojima, Shigenori Kadowaki, Narikazu Boku, Yukinori Kurokawa, Masanori Terashima, Takaki Yoshikawa
Institutions: National Cancer Center Hospital, Keio University, Keio University Hospital, Saitama Cancer Center, Kitasato University Hospital, National Cancer Centre Japan, Kanagawa Cancer Center, National Cancer Center Hospital East, Kyoto Medical Center, Tohoku University, Kindai University Hospital, Kindai University, The Cancer Institute Hospital, Japanese Foundation For Cancer Research, Wakayama Medical University, Wakayama University, Aichi Cancer Center, The University of Tokyo, The University of Osaka, Shizuoka Cancer Center
Language: English
Subfield: Pulmonary and Respiratory Medicine
Field: Medicine
Domain: Health Sciences
Open Access status: hybrid
Estimated APC paid: $5,190
Funders: Amgen, Bristol-Myers Squibb, Eli Lilly and Company, AstraZeneca, GlaxoSmithKline, Medpace, Merck KGaA, Taiho Pharmaceutical, National Center for Global Health and Medicine, Miyarisan Pharmaceutical, BeiGene, Boehringer Ingelheim Japan, Seagen, Daiichi-Sankyo, Eisai, Astellas Pharma, Otsuka Pharmaceutical, Ono Pharmaceutical, Chugai Pharmaceutical, Eli Lilly Japan, Bayer Yakuhin, Daiichi Sankyo Europe
Award: G8009283871
OpenAlex ID: W7208786963