The overall objective of this study is the development of definitive treatments for patients with locally advanced gastric cancer. To this end, this trial is evaluating the feasibility and treatment efficacy of adding an antibody blocking the EGF pathway to a neoadjuvant approach with proven efficacy developed at New York University (NYU). The combination of Irinotecan and Cisplatin has been shown to be synergistic and active against gastric carcinoma. This trial therefore builds upon NYU previous experience with the neoadjuvant administration of Irinotecan combined with Cisplatin as well as the reported enhanced activity of Irinotecan, Cisplatin and External beam radiation when combined with Cetuximab to develop a novel neoadjuvant and adjuvant approach for the treatment of gastric and gastro-esophageal junction (GEJ) cancers. The program includes: 1) systemic combination of Irinotecan, Cisplatin and Cetuximab used as an induction, 2) followed by potentially curative gastrectomy or GEJ resection, and 3) post-operative chemoradiation as reported in the Intergroup study with the addition of Cetuximab.
This study intends to evaluate the feasibility and treatment efficacy of adding an antibody blocking the epidermal growth factor (EGF) pathway to a neoadjuvant approach with proven efficacy developed at New York University.