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Home › Conditions › gastroesophageal junction cancer

Gastroesophageal junction cancer

Part of Cancer

5 published articles · Updated continuously

Clinical Trial Landscape

Clinical Trials for gastroesophageal junction cancer

6 trials tracked for gastroesophageal junction cancer: 5 in phase 3 or 4 and 3 with published results. The most-cited published study has 373 citations.

6Trials tracked
5Phase 3 & 4
0Recruiting
3With published results
Phase distribution
Phase 3 5 Phase 2 1
  1. Phase 3 Study of Pembrolizumab (MK-3475) Plus Chemotherapy Versus Placebo Plus Chemotherapy in Participants With Gastric or Gastroesophageal Junction (GEJ) Adenocarcinoma (MK-3475-585/KEYNOTE-585) Completed · 373 cited
  2. Phase 3 Efficacy Study of Nivolumab Plus Ipilimumab or Nivolumab Plus Chemotherapy Against Chemotherapy in Stomach Cancer or Stomach/Esophagus Junction Cancer Completed · 237 cited
  3. Phase 3 Combination Margetuximab, Retifanlimab, Tebotelimab, and Chemotherapy Phase 2/3 Trial in HER2+ Gastric/GEJ Cancer Completed · 99 cited
  4. Phase 3 A Study of BBI608 Plus Weekly Paclitaxel to Treat Gastric and Gastro-Esophageal Junction Cancer Completed
  5. Phase 3 Study of Pembrolizumab (MK-3475) Plus Chemotherapy Versus Placebo Plus Chemotherapy in Participants With Gastric or Gastroesophageal Junction (GEJ) Adenocarcinoma (MK-3475-585/KEYNOTE-585)-China Extension Completed
  6. Phase 2 Sorafenib for Patients With Metastatic or Recurrent Esophageal and Gastroesophageal Junction Cancer Completed

Showing the 6 most-cited and recently-updated of 6 trials. Browse the full registry →

Trial data sourced from ClinicalTrials.gov. Counts describe the research landscape and are not a treatment recommendation. Informational only — not medical advice.

What the trials found For clinicians

Gastroesophageal junction cancer: what the trials found

Pembrolizumab in combination with XP/FP demonstrated a statistically significant improvement in Event-free Survival (EFS) compared to Placebo+XP/FP (44.4% vs. 25.7%, p=0.01501) and a significantly higher Pathological Complete Response (pathCR) rate (13.4% vs. 2.0%, p<0.00001) 1. However, the difference in Overall Survival (OS) between these two arms did not reach statistical significance (71.8% vs. 55.7%, p=0.07503) 1.

Nivolumab combined with chemotherapy showed statistically significant improvements in both Overall Survival (14.39 vs. 11.10, p<0.0001) and Progression Free Survival (7.69 vs. 6.05, p<0.0001) in patients with PD-L1 CPS ≥ 5 2.

Other interventions evaluated include margetuximab 3 and BBI608; however, BBI608 did not show statistically significant improvements in Overall Survival (p=0.8596), Progression Free Survival (p=0.9028), or Objective Response Rate (p=0.7359) 5.

In a separate trial evaluating Pembrolizumab with XP/FP, no statistically significant differences were observed in EFS (p=0.39528), pathCR (p=0.33244), or DFS (p=0.34632) compared to the placebo arm 4.

Recent results — preliminary, needs further review

  • Sorafenib was observed in a study where 65% of tumors showed high Phosphorylated Extracellular Signal-regulated Kinase expression, though this finding is not yet corroborated 6.

For the clinician treating this condition

  • Pembrolizumab combined with XP/FP significantly improves EFS and pathCR rates compared to placebo, though OS results were not statistically significant in the primary trial 1.
  • Nivolumab plus chemotherapy is associated with statistically significant improvements in both OS and PFS in patients with PD-1 expression (CPS ≥ 5) 2.
  • BBI608 did not demonstrate a statistically significant clinical benefit in terms of survival or response rates 5.

AI synthesis of 6 cited trials, updated Jun 29, 2026. Informational only — not medical advice; trial data sourced from ClinicalTrials.gov. How we use AI.

HCP Mode — summaries include clinical detail, trial data, and statistical outcomes.
Patient Mode — summaries use plain language, avoiding clinical jargon.
Pembrolizumab plus chemotherapy improves ORR and OS in HER2-negative advanced gastric or gastroesophageal junction cancer
Allergy & Immunology Meta-analysis
Pembrolizumab plus chemotherapy improves ORR and OS in HER2-negative advanced gastric or gastroesophageal junction cancer Pembrolizumab Plus Chemotherapy Improves Outcomes for Advanced Gastric Cancer
This systematic review and meta-analysis of 3406 patients found that pembrolizumab combined with chemotherapy significantly improved objecti…
Adding the drug pembrolizumab to chemotherapy shows promise in improving survival and response rates for patients with advanced gastric canc…
Frontiers Aug 19, 2026
Zolbetuximab combined with chemotherapy improves progression-free survival and overall survival in CLDN18.2-expressing gastric cancers
Allergy & Immunology Meta-analysis
Zolbetuximab combined with chemotherapy improves progression-free survival and overall survival in CLDN18.2-expressing gastric cancers New drug shows promise for advanced stomach and esophageal cancer
This systematic review evaluates zolbetuximab in combination with chemotherapy for patients with advanced G/GEJ adenocarcinoma expressing hi…
A new treatment called zolbetuximab may improve survival rates for patients with specific types of advanced stomach and esophageal cancers.
Frontiers Jul 16, 2026
FDA approves OPDIVO QVANTIG for multiple advanced cancer indications including renal cell carcinoma and melanoma
Oncology FDA Approval
FDA approves OPDIVO QVANTIG for multiple advanced cancer indications including renal cell carcinoma and melanoma FDA approves subcutaneous nivolumab combination for multiple advanced cancers
This FDA approval document grants authorization for OPDIVO QVANTIG, a subcutaneous combination of nivolumab and hyaluronidase, for specified…
The FDA has approved a new subcutaneous form of nivolumab for several advanced cancers, offering a more convenient treatment option for elig…
FDA May 15, 2026
Meta-analysis of pucotenlimab shows improved outcomes across multiple solid tumors
Oncology Meta-analysis
Meta-analysis of pucotenlimab shows improved outcomes across multiple solid tumors New analysis shows pucotenlimab improves outcomes for several solid tumor types
This meta-analysis evaluated pucotenlimab (HX008) in patients with gastric, gastroesophageal junction, triple-negative breast cancer, melano…
A new analysis of pucotenlimab shows significantly improved outcomes versus control for patients with gastric cancer, triple-negative breast…
May 1, 2026
Envafolimab plus lenvatinib and paclitaxel shows activity in advanced gastric cancer after first-line progression
Oncology Phase II
Envafolimab plus lenvatinib and paclitaxel shows activity in advanced gastric cancer after first-line progression New Drug Combo Gives Hope for Late-Stage Stomach Cancer
This phase II, single-center, open-label trial evaluated envafolimab combined with lenvatinib and albumin-bound paclitaxel in 30 patients wi…
Imagine a patient who has already tried every standard treatment available.
Apr 21, 2026

Research across Cancer

Related studies from across the Cancer family.

Meta-analysis finds sex-based differences in ICI survival benefit for advanced gastroesophageal cancer
ENT (Otolaryngology) Meta-analysis
Meta-analysis finds sex-based differences in ICI survival benefit for advanced gastroesophageal cancer Immunotherapy Works Differently for Men and Women with Stomach Cancer
This meta-analysis of 15 RCTs examined immune-checkpoint inhibition for advanced gastroesophageal cancer. It found a significant overall sur…
Men with esophageal cancer gain a clear survival edge from immunotherapy, while women do not, but both sexes benefit similarly in stomach ca…
May 15, 2026
Case report and literature review on oxaliplatin and tegafur for AEG with intramural metastasis
Oncology Sys. Review
Case report and literature review on oxaliplatin and tegafur for AEG with intramural metastasis A rare cancer spread inside the esophagus wall needs careful treatment plans for older adults
This case report and literature review examines a 77-year-old male with adenocarcinoma of the esophagogastric junction and esophageal intram…
A doctor reviewed a rare case where cancer spread inside the esophagus wall. This condition often means the disease is already in the body. …
Frontiers May 11, 2026
pCR shows poor surrogacy for OS in neoadjuvant GEA trials overall, but strong for esophageal adenocarcinoma
Oncology Meta-analysis
pCR shows poor surrogacy for OS in neoadjuvant GEA trials overall, but strong for esophageal adenocarcinoma When a cancer disappears before surgery, does it mean patients live longer? Not always, a major review finds
A meta-analysis of 26 RCTs (n=7452) found pathologic complete response (pCR) was not a valid surrogate for overall survival (OS) in neoadjuv…
For stomach or esophageal cancer, a tumor disappearing before surgery does not always mean patients live longer, a major review finds.
Mar 30, 2026

Questions about gastroesophageal junction cancer

Does pucotenlimab show improved outcomes for patients with gastroesophageal junction cancer?

Yes, pucotenlimab shows improved outcomes for gastroesophageal junction cancer, especially when combined with oxaliplatin/capecitabine, though evidence is based on a meta-analysis of six trials.

Full answer →
What are the results of pembrolizumab plus chemotherapy for HER2-negative gastroesophageal junction cancer?

Pembrolizumab plus chemotherapy improves overall survival, progression-free survival, and response rates in HER2-negative gastroesophageal junction cancer, with manageable toxicity.

Full answer →