Comparative effectiveness and tolerability of targeted agents combined with chemotherapy in patients with HER2-positive gastroesophageal cancer: A network meta-analysis

BACKGROUND: Gastric cancer (GC) or gastroesophageal junction (GEJ) cancer with HER2 overexpression is highly invasive, with a poor prognosis. With the development of new targeted agents, which agents have ideal therapeutic effects must be determined. This network meta-analysis analyzed the effectiveness and tolerability of targeted agents combined with chemotherapy in HER2-positive GC/GEJ cancer. METHODS: Public databases were searched from the date of inception to October 22, 2020. Randomized controlled trials (RCTs) on targeted agent-related regimens for HER2-positive advanced GC or GEJ cancer were included. Subgroup analyses based on publication language, first-line treatment, second/third-line treatment, and HER2 staining intensity were performed. RESULTS: In total, 13 articles were included. The trastuzumabderuxtecan (TraD) and pertuzumab plus trastuzumab and chemotherapy (PerTraChemo) regimens were considered to have high effectiveness but low tolerability. In the subgroup analysis, PerTraChemo still had high effectiveness with low tolerability as the first-line therapy. As the second- or third-line therapy, TraD and lapatinib plus chemotherapy (LapChemo) had high effectiveness and moderate tolerability. In terms of overall survival (OS) time, PerTraChemo had a relative advantage in the immunohistochemistry (IHC) 2+/in situ hybridization (ISH)+ population, whereas TraD, PerTraChemo, and trastuzumab plus chemotherapy (TraChemo) had a relative advantage in the IHC3+ population. CONCLUSION: TraD had relative advantages as the second- or third-line therapy and in the IHC3 + population. PerTraChemo is a potential first-line therapy, but it requires further confirmation because the JACOB phase III clinical trial failed to confirm the superiority of PerTraChemo over TraChemo with regard to OS.