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Ramucirumab: A Review in Advanced Gastric Cancer

BioDrugs volume 29, pages 341–351 (2015)Cite this article

Abstract

Ramucirumab (Cyramza®), an intravenously administered, monoclonal antibody against vascular endothelial growth factor receptor-2, is approved in the USA, EU and Japan (either as a single agent or in combination with paclitaxel) as second-line treatment in adults with advanced gastric or gastro-oesophageal junction adenocarcinoma. In two phase III trials (REGARD and RAINBOW) in this indication, overall survival and progression-free survival were significantly prolonged with ramucirumab 8 mg/kg every 2 weeks compared with placebo, and with ramucirumab 8 mg/kg every 2 weeks plus weekly paclitaxel compared with placebo plus paclitaxel. Ramucirumab had a generally acceptable tolerability profile in phase III trials; hypertension was the most common non-haematological adverse event of grade 3 or higher with ramucirumab (either alone or with paclitaxel). As the first antiangiogenic agent to provide significant survival benefit in patients with advanced gastric cancer, ramucirumab is a valuable option in the second-line treatment of advanced gastric or gastro-oesophageal junction adenocarcinoma.

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Acknowledgments

During the peer review process, the manufacturer of ramucirumab was also offered an opportunity to review this article. Changes resulting from comments received were made on the basis of scientific and editorial merit.

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  1. Springer, Private Bag 65901, Mairangi Bay, Auckland, 0754, New Zealand

    Sarah L. Greig & Gillian M. Keating

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  1. Sarah L. Greig
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  2. Gillian M. Keating
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Sarah L. Greig.

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Funding

The preparation of this review was not supported by any external funding.

Conflict of interest

Sarah Greig and Gillian Keating are salaried employees of Adis/Springer, are responsible for the article content and declare no relevant conflicts of interest.

Additional information

The manuscript was reviewed by: S. J. Klempner, Division of Hematology/Oncology, University of California Irvine Health, Orange, CA, USA; G. Y. Ku, Gastrointestinal Oncology Service, Department of Medicine, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY, USA.

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Cite this article

Greig, S.L., Keating, G.M. Ramucirumab: A Review in Advanced Gastric Cancer. BioDrugs 29, 341–351 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1007/s40259-015-0138-1

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s40259-015-0138-1

Keywords

  • Overall Survival
  • Paclitaxel
  • Advanced Gastric Cancer
  • Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor Pathway
  • Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group Score