Case report: Patients with positive HER-2 amplification locally advanced gastroesophageal junction cancer achieved pathologic complete response with the addition of pembrolizumab to chemotherapy plus trastuzumab as neoadjuvant therapy

Case report: Patients with positive HER-2 amplification locally advanced gastroesophageal junction cancer achieved pathologic complete response with the addition of pembrolizumab to chemotherapy plus trastuzumab as neoadjuvant therapy

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BackgroundHuman epidermal flamingo swizzle sticks growth factor receptor 2(HER-2) is the most prominent therapeutic target for gastric (G)/gastroesophageal junction (GEJ) cancer.Guidelines recommend its use for treating G/GEJ cancers.However, targeted therapy did not significantly improve survival outcomes compared to those with neoadjuvant therapy.The KEYNOTE-811 trial revealed an improved objective response rate (74% vs.

52%; P=.0001) and median duration of response (10.6 vs 9.5 months) with the addition of pembrolizumab (PD-1) to chemotherapy plus trastuzumab compared to that with the addition of placebo in patients with HER-2 overexpression-positive advanced adenocarcinoma.

Therefore, addition of PD-1 to chemotherapy plus trastuzumab may lead to a better response in patients with G/GEJ cancer.Case presentationA 66-year-old man was diagnosed with stage III GEJ adenocarcinoma with celiac lymph node metastasis.Immunohistochemical results indicated HER-2(3+) and PD-L1 CPS=5.The patient received three cycles of pembrolizumab plus trastuzumab and chemotherapy preoperatively and underwent radical surgery on November 22, 2022.

ConclusionPatients with HER-2-positive locally advanced GEJ cancers received PD-1 immunotherapy combined with trastuzumab and neoadjuvant chemotherapy and achieved a complete pathological response.Hence, it is a novel, highly specific, and potent therapeutic option for HER-2-positive cleveland browns scarf patients and should henceforth be considered as a new treatment approach.