Skip to main page content
U.S. flag

An official website of the United States government

Dot gov

The .gov means it’s official.
Federal government websites often end in .gov or .mil. Before sharing sensitive information, make sure you’re on a federal government site.

Https

The site is secure.
The https:// ensures that you are connecting to the official website and that any information you provide is encrypted and transmitted securely.

Access keys NCBI Homepage MyNCBI Homepage Main Content Main Navigation
Review
. 2024 Feb 5;16(3):679.
doi: 10.3390/cancers16030679.

Claudin 18.2 as a New Biomarker in Gastric Cancer-What Should We Know?

Maria Cecília Mathias-Machado  1 , Victor Hugo Fonseca de Jesus  2 , Alexandre Jácome  3 , Mauro Daniel Donadio  1 , Marcelo Porfirio Sunagua Aruquipa  1 , João Fogacci  4 , Renato Guerino Cunha  5 , Leonard Medeiros da Silva  6 , Renata D'Alpino Peixoto  1
Affiliations
Review

Claudin 18.2 as a New Biomarker in Gastric Cancer-What Should We Know?

Maria Cecília Mathias-Machado et al. Cancers (Basel). .

Abstract

Gastric cancer (GC) remains a formidable global health challenge, ranking among the top-five causes of cancer-related deaths worldwide. The majority of patients face advanced stages at diagnosis, with a mere 6% five-year survival rate. First-line treatment for metastatic GC typically involves a fluoropyrimidine and platinum agent combination; yet, predictive molecular markers have proven elusive. This review navigates the evolving landscape of GC biomarkers, with a specific focus on Claudin 18.2 (CLDN18.2) as an emerging and promising target. Recent phase III trials have unveiled the efficacy of Zolbetuximab, a CLDN18.2-targeting antibody, in combination with oxaliplatin-based chemotherapy for CLDN18.2-positive metastatic GC. As this novel therapeutic avenue unfolds, understanding the nuanced decision making regarding the selection of anti-CLDN18.2 therapies over other targeted agents in metastatic GC becomes crucial. This manuscript reviews the evolving role of CLDN18.2 as a biomarker in GC and explores the current status of CLDN18.2-targeting agents in clinical development. The aim is to provide concise insights into the potential of CLDN18.2 as a therapeutic target and guide future clinical decisions in the management of metastatic GC.

Keywords: biomarkers; cancer; gastric cancer; treatment.

PubMed Disclaimer

Conflict of interest statement

V.H.F.d.J. and R.D.P. declare participation in consulting and advisory boards for Astellas. J.F. declares participation in advisory boards for Astellas. The remaining authors declare no conflicts of interest.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Representation of CLDN18.2 in gastric cancer cells, and structure and interaction with anti-CLDN18.2 Zolbetuximab—designed in Biorender.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

References

    1. Sung H., Ferlay J., Siegel R.L., Laversanne M., Soerjomataram I., Jemal A., Bray F. Global Cancer Statistics 2020: GLOBOCAN Estimates of Incidence and Mortality Worldwide for 36 Cancers in 185 Countries. CA Cancer J. Clin. 2021;71:209–249. doi: 10.3322/caac.21660. - DOI - PubMed
    1. Cancer Facts & Figures 2021. [(accessed on 7 September 2023)]. Available online: https://www.cancer.org/research/cancer-facts-statistics/all-cancer-facts....
    1. Smyth E.C., Nilsson M., Grabsch H.I., van Grieken N.C., Lordick F. Gastric cancer. Lancet. 2020;396:635–648. doi: 10.1016/S0140-6736(20)31288-5. - DOI - PubMed
    1. Waddell T., Chau I., Cunningham D., Gonzalez D., Okines A.F.C., Wotherspoon A., Saffery C., Middleton G., Wadsley J., Ferry D., et al. Epirubicin, oxaliplatin, and capecitabine with or without panitumumab for patients with previously untreated advanced oesophagogastric cancer (REAL3): A randomised, open-label phase 3 trial. Lancet Oncol. 2013;14:481–489. doi: 10.1016/S1470-2045(13)70096-2. - DOI - PMC - PubMed
    1. Lordick F., Kang Y.-K., Chung H.-C., Salman P., Oh S.C., Bodoky G., Kurteva G., Volovat C., Moiseyenko V.M., Gorbunova V., et al. Capecitabine and cisplatin with or without cetuximab for patients with previously untreated advanced gastric cancer (EXPAND): A randomised, open-label phase 3 trial. Lancet Oncol. 2013;14:490–499. doi: 10.1016/S1470-2045(13)70102-5. - DOI - PubMed