Dr Kohei Shitara talks to ecancer at ESMO 2026 about the first interim analysis of the phase III G-HOPE-001 trial, evaluating arcotatug tavatecan, a CLDN18.2-targeted antibody-drug conjugate, in patients with previously treated advanced gastric or gastroesophageal junction adenocarcinoma.

The study randomised 408 patients who had received two to four prior treatment regimens to arcotatug tavatecan or physician's choice of chemotherapy.

Arcotatug tavatecan significantly improved median progression-free survival compared with chemotherapy (5.5 versus 2.9 months; HR 0.47) and achieved a higher objective response rate (23.6% versus 5.3%).

Interim overall survival results also favoured arcotatug tavatecan (9.9 versus 7.4 months), although further analysis is planned.

Grade 3 or higher treatment-emergent adverse events were less frequent with arcotatug tavatecan (45.8% versus 57.9%).

These findings support its potential as a treatment option for heavily pretreated CLDN18.2-positive advanced gastric cancer.