WILMINGTON, DE — The Phase III MATTERHORN trial has delivered groundbreaking results, demonstrating that AstraZeneca’s IMFINZI® (durvalumab) combined with FLOT chemotherapy significantly improves outcomes for patients with resectable early-stage and locally advanced gastric and gastroesophageal junction (GEJ) cancers. The study’s findings showcase a substantial advancement in the perioperative treatment of these aggressive cancers.
Patients receiving the IMFINZI-based perioperative regimen experienced a 29% reduction in the risk of disease progression, recurrence, or death compared to those treated with chemotherapy alone. Event-free survival (EFS) at two years revealed a clear advantage, with 67.4% of patients in the IMFINZI group remaining event-free, compared to 58.5% in the chemotherapy-only group.
Dr. Yelena Y. Janjigian of Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center and principal investigator for the trial highlighted the significance of these findings, stating, “Results from the MATTERHORN trial showed that more than two-thirds of patients treated with a durvalumab-based perioperative regimen had not experienced a recurrence or were progression-free after two years. This new treatment approach should become the new standard of care in this setting.”
The trial also demonstrated a strong trend toward improved overall survival (OS), with an observed hazard ratio of 0.78 in favor of the IMFINZI regimen. Though median overall survival data remains forthcoming, these results indicate significant promise.
IMFINZI’s impact extended beyond survival metrics. The regimen more than doubled the pathologic complete response (pCR) rate compared to chemotherapy alone, achieving 19% versus 7%.
Cristian Massacesi, AstraZeneca’s Chief Medical Officer, emphasized the broader implications of the trial. “This immunotherapy-based perioperative regimen has the potential to change the clinical paradigm in early gastric and gastroesophageal junction cancers. The MATTERHORN trial highlights our commitment to bringing novel therapies to early stages of disease where there is the greatest chance for cure.”
Importantly, the safety profile of IMFINZI combined with FLOT chemotherapy was consistent with what is already known, and comparable rates of surgery completion were observed between treatment groups.
The MATTERHORN trial, presented at the 2025 American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) Annual Meeting, is poised to redefine treatment standards for early gastric and GEJ cancers, offering renewed hope for patients battling these challenging diseases.
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