Optimizing the Continuum of Care in Gastric Cancer

Beatrice Riccò,* Giulio Martinelli,* Camilla Bardasi, Massimo Dominici, Andrea Spallanzani, Massimiliano Salati Department of Oncology and Hematology, University Hospital of Modena, Modena, Italy*These authors contributed equally to this workCorrespondence: Andrea Spallanzani, Department of Oncology and Hematology, University Hospital of Modena, Via del Pozzo, 71, Modena, MO, 41125, Italy, Tel +390594223310, Fax +390594223289, Email andrea.spallanzani@gmail.comAbstract: Gastric cancer (GC) still ranks as the fifth most common malignancy and the fourth leading cause of cancer-related death worldwide. Despite the recent progress in the therapeutic algorithm of the advanced disease with the advent of immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) and next-generation HER2-directed therapies, survival rates remain poor, with a median survival hardly exceeding 12 months. Furthermore, only 40% of patients remain eligible for second- and later-line treatments due to the aggressiveness of the disease and the rapid deterioration of performance status (PS). Thus, current research is focusing either on the identification of novel treatment options or the development of personalized strategies to optimize the continuum of care and ultimately improve patients’ outcome. In this article, we provide an overview of the current treatment landscape for advanced GC with a particular emphasis on later-line treatments and outline novel perspectives on the horizon.Keywords: gastric cancer, gastroesophageal cancer, continuum of care, target therapies