What's Happening?
AstraZeneca's IMFINZI (durvalumab) combined with standard chemotherapy has demonstrated a significant improvement in overall survival for patients with early-stage gastric and gastroesophageal junction cancers. The MATTERHORN Phase III trial results,
presented at the European Society for Medical Oncology Congress 2025, revealed a 22% reduction in the risk of death compared to chemotherapy alone. The study involved perioperative treatment with IMFINZI and FLOT chemotherapy, followed by adjuvant IMFINZI and chemotherapy, then IMFINZI monotherapy. The trial's findings suggest that this regimen could become the new standard of care for these cancer types.
Why It's Important?
The results of the MATTERHORN trial are significant as they offer a new potential standard of care for early gastric and gastroesophageal cancers, which are known for high recurrence rates and poor long-term prognosis. The survival benefit observed with the IMFINZI-based regimen, regardless of PD-L1 status, could change treatment paradigms and improve patient outcomes. This development is crucial for the oncology community as it provides a new therapeutic option that extends survival in a setting where curative-intent surgery and chemotherapy have limited success.
What's Next?
Following the positive results of the MATTERHORN trial, AstraZeneca may seek regulatory approval to expand the use of IMFINZI in early gastric and gastroesophageal cancers. The oncology community will likely monitor further data and real-world outcomes to validate these findings. Additionally, healthcare providers may begin considering this regimen as a treatment option, potentially leading to changes in clinical guidelines and practices.
