Pharmaceutical advances in the treatment of gastric adenocarcinoma

Introduction: Gastric adenocarcinoma (GAC) continues to be a prevalent global concern. Differences in incidence are predominantly due to geographic locations with Asia contributing to majority of cases. Another parallel challenge is due to heterogenous molecular and immune profiles of GAC along with varying clinicopathological features of patients. In most countries, GACs are diagnosed late in an advanced stage as the early detection infrastructure cannot be implemented or not feasible. Future advances in liquid biopsies could change all that. Areas covered: The authors focus on the recent advances in the management of advanced GAC patients w but also address localized GAC. Herein, the authors review the most contemporary treatments and promising breakthroughs. Expert opinion: The addition of immunotherapy to standard of care has changed the outlook of advanced GAC patients. The authors anticipate continued advances in the development of immunotherapy both in surgically resectable and unresectable GACs. Targeting the ERBB2 (HER2) protein pathway remains uniquely important in GACs with ERBB2 (HER2) protein positivity. Currently, many novel anti-ERBB2 (HER2) protein therapies are under investigation. The next generation of GAC patients will derive considerably more benefit as the therapeutic landscape becomes more complex coupled with challenges in biomarker platforms and new drug development.