Background. Ramucirumab is a monoclonal antibody that inhibits the vascular endothelial growth factor receptor-2 (VEGFR2). The study is aimed to analyse prognostic factors for survival in patients with disseminated gastric cancer who received ramucirumab in the second-line therapy in ’real-life’ clinical setting of Russia (RAMSELGA). Methods. We retrospectively analysed the outcome of 163 patients aged 20–78 years from 11 oncological centres in Russia. Survival analysis was performed using the Kaplan – Meier model, and regression analysis was performed using the Cox model. Results. In a univariate analysis of overall survival, 5 factors were identified as independent factors of an unfavourable prognosis: 1) age <65 years (RR 0.542; 95% CI 0.302–0.971; p = 0.039); 2) time to tumour progression on the first-line therapy is not more than four months. (RR 0.161; 95% CI 0.105–0.246; p = 0.0000); 3) a low grade tumour or colloid cancer (RR 1,868; 95% CI 1,063–3,284; p = 0,030); 4) peritoneal metastasis (RR 1.549; 95% CI 1.026–2.339; p = 0.037); 5) ascites or pleurisy (RR 0.624; 95% CI 0.424–0.920; p = 0.017). In a multivariate analysis, favourable prognostic factors of overall survival of patients included age – 65 years or older (OS 2.288; 95% CI 1.240–4.220; p = 0.008) and time to tumour progression on the first-line therapy – more than 4 months (OS 6.650; 95% CI 4.221–10.477; p = 0.000). Conclusion. Despite an active search, prognostic factors for survival in patients that are universal for dGC have not yet been found. To build a universal prognostic model, a very thoughtful analysis considering not only clinical and laboratory, but also pathomorphological and molecular genetic characteristics is required.

Gastric cancer remains one of the most common malignancies in Russia. Despite steady decrease of gastric cancer incidence it still reaches 24.65 per 100 000 population (crude rate) in 2019 with about 36 000 new cases annually. More than 29 000 people die of gastric cancer every year. High mortality rate is mostly caused by an extremely significant proportion of patients with metastatic disease which reached 40.1% in 2019. The majority of cases is related to Helicobacter pylori infection, salty diet, tobacco exposure as well as hereditary syndromes. Staging of locally advanced gastric cancer includes contrast-enhanced computed tomography of the thorax, abdomen and pelvis as well as diagnostic laparoscopy with peritoneal washings. In patients with inoperable or disseminated cancer of the stomach additional analysis for HER2, microsatellite instability and PD-L1 status is recommended. Endoscopic or laparoscopic resection remains the mainstay of treatment in patients with early cancer. Laparoscopic gastrectomy in patients with locally advanced cancer is reserved for high-volume centers with extensive experience with the procedure. Recently, perioperative cytotoxic therapy became the standard of treatment in patients with locally advanced gastric cancer. FLOT regimen is recommended while FOLFOX6 or XELOX are considered possible in the elderly or frail patients. Drug therapy includes standard doublet or triplet chemotherapy regimens for metastatic disease with trastuzumab for HER2(+++) patients. Patients with MSI-H tumors can be treated with pembrolizumab starting with 2nd line while nivolumab is reserved for the 3rd and further lines regardless of PD-L1 status. Importantly, this year guidelines include multimodal prehabilitation including physical exercise, nutritional support and psychological counselling as a possibility in all patients in need of surgery. Also standardized enhanced recovery protocols are recommended for usage during the perioperative period.

Резюме Введение. Рамуцирумаб-моноклональное антитело, ингибирующее рецепторы фактора роста эндотелия сосудов 2-го типа (VEGFR2). Целью исследования являлся анализ результатов применения рамуцирумаба во 2-й линии лечения больных диссеминированным раком желудка в реальной клинической практике России. Методы. В анализ были включены ретроспективные данные из 11 онкологических центров. Оценена специфическая токсичность. Результаты: во второй линии лечения рамуцирумаб был назначен 163 больным: в монорежиме-17, в комбинации с паклитакселом-104, в комбинации с режимами на основе иринотекана-42 пациентам. Специфическая для рамуцирумаба токсичность (любой степени) была представлена: носовыми кровотечениями (39,2%), протеинурией > 1 г/день (4,9%), артериальной гипертензией (68%), токсичность 3-4-й степени-кровотечением (4,3%), гастроинтестинальными перфорациями (2,4%), венозными тромбозами (3,6%) и ишемией головного мозга (0,6%), лечение прекращено из-за токсичности у 15 больных (9,2%). Заключение. Полученные данные соответствуют результатам рандомизированных исследований. Рамуцирумаб в комбинации с иринотеканом и фторпиримидинами демонстрирует высокую активность, приемлемую токсичность, может быть рекомендован для практического применения и дальнейшего изучения в сравнительных рандомизированных исследованиях.

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