Background
Population or registry data regarding metastatic gastric cancer (mGC) patients in Australia is limited. To characterise this population Servier Laboratories (Aust) Pty Ltd commissioned METIS Healthcare Research Pty Ltd to conduct a questionnaire of medical oncologists.
Methods
An online questionnaire portal was open during May 2019 to Australian medical oncologists who had treated at least 1 refractory mGC patient in the last year. The questionnaire explored the journey of patients from metastatic diagnosis to the refractory setting, patient characteristics, and treatments.
Results
25 medical oncologists (NSW: 36%, VIC: 32%, QLD: 12%, ACT:8%, WA:4%) reported a combined annual clinical load of 190 mGC patients that became refractory to all standard available therapies. 110 of these patients maintained a performance status of ECOG 0-1.
Patient characteristics were provided for mGC 90 patients in the refractory setting. 74% were male, 86% were Caucasian (Asian: 10%, Aboriginal/Torres Strait Islander: 3%, Pacific Islander: 1%). Median age was 66 years (range 40-82), 69% were Stage IV at diagnosis (Stage III: 13%, Stage II: 13%, Stage I: 4%). Primary tumour site was Gastric (44%), Gastroesophageal junction (51%), and Both (4%).
ECOG PS was 0 (14%), 1 (51%) & 2-4 (34%). Median number of metastatic sites was 2, located in the liver (77%), Peritoneum (44%), Lung (39%), Bone (8%) CNS (3%) and other (9%). 11% of patients had prior total gastrectomy and 18% had partial. 8% of patients were HER-2 positive.
Previous therapies included: Fluoropyrimidines (100%), Platinum agents (92%), Taxanes (83%), Irinotecan (58%), Anti-HER2 (8%), Ramucirumab (1%) and immunotherapy (16%), Other (3%).
Conclusions
This questionnaire informed that a cohort of mGC patients remain suitable for additional therapy despite being heavily pre-treated with approved medications.