Global BulletinAll NewsFDA Approval AlertWomen in Oncology
Around the PracticeBetween the LinesFace OffFrom All AnglesMeeting of the MindsOncViewPodcastsTraining AcademyTreatment Algorithms with the Oncology BrothersVideos
Conferences
All JournalsEditorial BoardFor AuthorsYear in Review
Frontline ForumSatellite Sessions
CME/CE
Awareness MonthNurse Practitioners/Physician's AssistantsPartnersSponsoredSponsored Media
Career CenterSubscribe
Adverse Effects
Brain Cancer
Breast CancerBreast CancerBreast Cancer
Gastrointestinal CancerGastrointestinal CancerGastrointestinal CancerGastrointestinal CancerGastrointestinal CancerGastrointestinal Cancer
Genitourinary CancersGenitourinary CancersGenitourinary CancersGenitourinary Cancers
Gynecologic CancersGynecologic CancersGynecologic CancersGynecologic Cancers
Head & Neck Cancer
Hematologic OncologyHematologic OncologyHematologic OncologyHematologic Oncology
InfectionInfection
Leukemia
Lung CancerLung CancerLung Cancer
Lymphoma
Neuroendocrine Tumors
Oncology
Pediatric Cancers
Radiation Oncology
Sarcoma
Screening
Skin Cancer & Melanoma
Surgery
Thyroid Cancer
Spotlight -
  • Radiation Oncology
  • Surgery
Adverse Effects
Brain Cancer
Breast CancerBreast CancerBreast Cancer
Gastrointestinal CancerGastrointestinal CancerGastrointestinal CancerGastrointestinal CancerGastrointestinal CancerGastrointestinal Cancer
Genitourinary CancersGenitourinary CancersGenitourinary CancersGenitourinary Cancers
Gynecologic CancersGynecologic CancersGynecologic CancersGynecologic Cancers
Head & Neck Cancer
Hematologic OncologyHematologic OncologyHematologic OncologyHematologic Oncology
InfectionInfection
Leukemia
Lung CancerLung CancerLung Cancer
Lymphoma
Neuroendocrine Tumors
Oncology
Pediatric Cancers
Radiation Oncology
Sarcoma
Screening
Skin Cancer & Melanoma
Surgery
Thyroid Cancer
    • Conferences
    • CME/CE
    • Career Center
    • Subscribe
Advertisement

No Deaths Observed Related to Nivolumab in Resected Gastric Cancers

June 14, 2025
By Ronan J. Kelly, MD
Commentary
Video
Conference|ASCO Annual Meeting: Gastrointestinal Cancer

Patients treated with nivolumab in the phase 3 CheckMate 577 trial were less likely to experience progression-related treatment discontinuation vs placebo.

No nivolumab (Opdivo)-related deaths were observed among patients with resected esophageal or gastroesophageal junction cancer previously treated with chemoradiation in the phase 3 CheckMate 577 study (NCT02743494), according to Ronan J. Kelly, MD, MBA.

Kelly, director of oncology at the Charles A. Sammons Cancer Center and W.W. Caruth, Jr. Endowed Chair of Immunology at Baylor University Medical Center in Dallas, Texas, spoke with CancerNetwork® about efficacy findings from the phase 3 study as well as key findings regarding patient characteristics and safety insights. He exhibited findings from the study in an oral presentation he gave at the 2025 American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) Annual Meeting.

He began by describing the baseline characteristics for patients enrolled in the trial, explaining that most patients had esophageal cancer and that the most common histology was adenocarcinoma. He further remarked that most patients had node-positive disease, a poor prognostic factor, as well as histologically “hot” tumors, or ones with a PD-L1 combined positive score (CPS) of 1 or greater.

Kelly then described findings from the trial, highlighting that all patients had concluded therapy, with nearly half successfully completing treatment. He further expressed that disease progression occurred at a greater rate among patients treated with placebo vs nivolumab, with both arms experiencing a similar duration of treatment and number of doses. He concluded by explaining that more deaths occurred in the placebo arm vs the nivolumab arm and that no deaths were observed that were attributable to nivolumab treatment.

Transcript

The [phase 3 CheckMate 577] data that we showed at the ASCO Annual Meeting had a data cutoff [date of] November 7, 2024. The median follow-up time was 78.3 months, and the minimum follow-up was 5 years. In terms of the baseline characteristics for patients who [were enrolled] in the study, the salient points are that [regarding] tumor location, 59% had esophageal cancer and 41% had gastroesophageal junction cancer. Adenocarcinoma was the predominant histology, with 71% of patients having adenocarcinoma [and] 29% having squamous cell carcinoma.

The poor prognostic factor of lymph node–positive disease occurred in 58% of the patients. And then we looked at PD-L1, broken down into both TPS [tumor proportion score] and CPS, and we know in this disease setting CPS is now the better assessment of PD-L1 status. Here, for the first time, we’ve shown that approximately 10% of patients had immunologically cold tumors defined as a CPS of less than 1 and the remaining patients had [a CPS of] greater than 1, or immunologically hotter tumors, so that was also interesting information.

In terms of exposure and disposition, there were no patients currently on treatment with the study drug. Forty-nine percent completed treatment, and then if we look at those who discontinued treatment, 29% [experienced] disease progression in the nivolumab arm whereas 44% [experienced] disease progression in the placebo arm. The median duration of treatment and the median number of doses were similar across both arms. In terms of death, we [observed] more deaths due to disease progression [with] placebo vs the nivolumab arm and there were no [nivolumab-related] treatment deaths.

Reference

Kelly RJ, Ajani JA, Kuzdzal J, et al. Adjuvant nivolumab in resected esophageal or gastroesophageal junction cancer (EC/GEJC) following neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy (CRT): first results of overall survival (OS) from CheckMate 577. J Clin Oncol. 2025;43(suppl 16):4000. doi:10.1200/JCO.2025.43.16_suppl.4000

Recent Videos
For example, you have a belt of certain diseases or genetic disorders that you come across, such as sickle cell disease or thalassemia, that are more prevalent in these areas.
Recent findings presented at ASTRO 2025 suggest an “exciting opportunity” to expand the role of radiation oncology in different non-malignant indications.
The 3 most likely directions of radiotherapy advancements come from new technology, combinations with immunotherapy, and the incorporation of particle therapy.
Talent shortages in the manufacturing and administration of cellular therapies are problems that must be addressed at the level of each country.
Administering oral SERD-based regimens may enhance patients’ quality of life when undergoing treatment for ER-positive, HER2-negative breast cancer.
Distance and training represent 2 major obstacles to making radiotherapy available to more patients with cancer across the world.
Point-of-care manufacturing, scalable manufacturing, and bringing the cost down [can help].
Louis Potters, MD, FASTRO, FABS, FACR, describes how evidence-based radiation protocols may integrate with novel artificial intelligence software.
The use of enhanced imaging and adaptive radiotherapy has lessened the burden on patients with cancer receiving radiotherapy as treatment.
Gedatolisib-based triplet regimens may be effective among patients with prior endocrine resistance or rapid progression following frontline therapy.
Related Content
Advertisement

The overall survival benefit with the bemarituzumab combination in the phase 3 FORTITUDE-101 trial was consistent across key prespecified subgroups.

Bemarituzumab Regimen Prolongs Survival in Advanced Gastric/GEJ Cancer

Ashling Wahner
October 20th 2025
Article

The overall survival benefit with the bemarituzumab combination in the phase 3 FORTITUDE-101 trial was consistent across key prespecified subgroups.


Experts discuss considerations for improving the care of patients with prostate, kidney, and bladder cancer in community-based practices at World GU 2025.

Episode 13: Perspectives on Optimizing Community Care at World GU 2025

Manojkumar Bupathi, MD, MS;Benjamin Garmezy, MD;Sam S. Chang MD, MBA;Jeff Yorio, MD
September 12th 2025
Podcast

Experts discuss considerations for improving the care of patients with prostate, kidney, and bladder cancer in community-based practices at World GU 2025.


The safety profile of telisotuzumab adizutecan was manageable in pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma, consistent with its profile in other tumor types.

Temab-A Displays Early Efficacy in Locally Advanced/Metastatic PDAC

Roman Fabbricatore
October 20th 2025
Article

The safety profile of telisotuzumab adizutecan was manageable in pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma, consistent with its profile in other tumor types.


Geraldine O’Sullivan Coyne, MD, MRCPI, PhD, discusses how the START center may expand access to novel therapies for patients who reside in a community.

START Center Aims to Bring New Cancer Treatments, Trials to the Community

Geraldine O’Sullivan Coyne, MD, MRCPI, PhD
August 25th 2025
Podcast

Geraldine O’Sullivan Coyne, MD, PhD, MRCPI, discusses how the START center may expand access to novel therapies for patients who reside in a community setting.


Patients with ESCC treated in 2 tislelizumab-based arms experienced higher composite complete response rates compared to chemoradiotherapy alone.

Tislelizumab Regimen Exhibits Improved Survival in Locally Advanced ESCC

Caroline Seymour
October 19th 2025
Article

Patients with ESCC treated in 2 tislelizumab-based arms experienced higher composite complete response rates compared to chemoradiotherapy alone.


Overall survival data in the IMbrave152/SKYSCRAPER-14 study are not anticipated to show statistical significance.

Tiragolumab Regimen Misses PFS End Point in Hepatocellular Carcinoma

Spencer Feldman
October 19th 2025
Article

Overall survival data in the IMbrave152/SKYSCRAPER-14 study are not anticipated to show statistical significance.

Related Content
Advertisement

The overall survival benefit with the bemarituzumab combination in the phase 3 FORTITUDE-101 trial was consistent across key prespecified subgroups.

Bemarituzumab Regimen Prolongs Survival in Advanced Gastric/GEJ Cancer

Ashling Wahner
October 20th 2025
Article

The overall survival benefit with the bemarituzumab combination in the phase 3 FORTITUDE-101 trial was consistent across key prespecified subgroups.


Experts discuss considerations for improving the care of patients with prostate, kidney, and bladder cancer in community-based practices at World GU 2025.

Episode 13: Perspectives on Optimizing Community Care at World GU 2025

Manojkumar Bupathi, MD, MS;Benjamin Garmezy, MD;Sam S. Chang MD, MBA;Jeff Yorio, MD
September 12th 2025
Podcast

Experts discuss considerations for improving the care of patients with prostate, kidney, and bladder cancer in community-based practices at World GU 2025.


The safety profile of telisotuzumab adizutecan was manageable in pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma, consistent with its profile in other tumor types.

Temab-A Displays Early Efficacy in Locally Advanced/Metastatic PDAC

Roman Fabbricatore
October 20th 2025
Article

The safety profile of telisotuzumab adizutecan was manageable in pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma, consistent with its profile in other tumor types.


Geraldine O’Sullivan Coyne, MD, MRCPI, PhD, discusses how the START center may expand access to novel therapies for patients who reside in a community.

START Center Aims to Bring New Cancer Treatments, Trials to the Community

Geraldine O’Sullivan Coyne, MD, MRCPI, PhD
August 25th 2025
Podcast

Geraldine O’Sullivan Coyne, MD, PhD, MRCPI, discusses how the START center may expand access to novel therapies for patients who reside in a community setting.


Patients with ESCC treated in 2 tislelizumab-based arms experienced higher composite complete response rates compared to chemoradiotherapy alone.

Tislelizumab Regimen Exhibits Improved Survival in Locally Advanced ESCC

Caroline Seymour
October 19th 2025
Article

Patients with ESCC treated in 2 tislelizumab-based arms experienced higher composite complete response rates compared to chemoradiotherapy alone.


Overall survival data in the IMbrave152/SKYSCRAPER-14 study are not anticipated to show statistical significance.

Tiragolumab Regimen Misses PFS End Point in Hepatocellular Carcinoma

Spencer Feldman
October 19th 2025
Article

Overall survival data in the IMbrave152/SKYSCRAPER-14 study are not anticipated to show statistical significance.

Advertisement
About
Advertise
CureToday.com
OncLive.com
OncNursingNews.com
TargetedOnc.com
Editorial
Contact
Terms and Conditions
Privacy
Do Not Sell My Personal Information
Contact Info

2 Commerce Drive
Cranbury, NJ 08512

609-716-7777

© 2025 MJH Life Sciences

All rights reserved.