About 30,000 people in the US are diagnosed with stomach cancer each year, often late. Treatment is now split by biomarker: HER2, claudin 18.2 and PD-L1 status each point to different drugs. Immunotherapy has moved into treatment around surgery, and a new HER2 antibody replaced trastuzumab as the first treatment for HER2-positive disease in 2026.
- 1,172studies open or running
- 126phase 3 trials
- 5,963papers published this year
- 40NIH-funded projects
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Now
Nov 2026
Immunotherapy around surgeryHappened 69% alive at 3 years
Durvalumab with FLOT: 69% alive at 3 years vs 62%; approved November 2025.
69%: alive at 3 years with durvalumab, vs 62%.
A new HER2 standardHappened 26.4 mo median survival
Zanidatamab with tislelizumab and chemo: median survival 26.4 vs 19.2 months with trastuzumab; approved August 2026.
26.4 mo: median survival with zanidatamab, tislelizumab and chemo, vs 19.2.
A second-line HER2 drugHappened 30% lower risk of death
Trastuzumab deruxtecan lowered the risk of death by 30% after first treatment.
30%: lower risk of death than ramucirumab plus paclitaxel.
Not every immunotherapy trial succeededHappened
Pembrolizumab around surgery (KEYNOTE-585) did not significantly improve survival.
Treating H. pylori prevents cancerHappened 36% lower cancer risk
Clearing the infection lowered stomach cancer risk by 36% in randomized trials.
36%: lower stomach cancer risk after eradication in randomized trials.
-
6 months
by May 2027
Longer survival data for zanidatamabLikely
Updated survival results, including for the chemo-only regimen, are due at a late-2026 meeting.
-
12 months
by Nov 2027
Nivolumab for more patientsPossible
A National Cancer Institute trial tests adding nivolumab for people whose tumors have low PD-L1; due October 2027.
-
3 years
by late 2029
Claudin 18.2 drug plus immunotherapyPossible
LUCERNA (500 people) adds pembrolizumab to zolbetuximab and chemotherapy; due September 2028.
HER2 drug conjugate moves to first treatmentPossible
A 726-person Daiichi Sankyo trial tests trastuzumab deruxtecan as first treatment; due June 2028.
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5 years
by late 2031
A new antibody-drug conjugate for claudin 18.2Long shot
AstraZeneca's 2,130-person trial tests sonesitatug vedotin with or without rilvegostomig; due August 2029.
The research paths
HER2-targeted drugs
26.4 mo median survivalDetails and 3 trialsHide
Zanidatamab and trastuzumab deruxtecan are reshaping HER2-positive care.
WatchFirst-line trastuzumab deruxtecan; HLX22.
Claudin 18.2 drugs
Details and 2 trialsHide
Zolbetuximab and new drug conjugates for the claudin 18.2 target.
WatchLUCERNA.
Immunotherapy around surgery
69% alive at 3 yearsDetailsHide
Durvalumab with FLOT is approved; results vary by drug and chemotherapy.
WatchLonger follow-up.
Prevention
36% lower cancer riskDetailsHide
H. pylori testing and treatment to prevent cancer.
WatchPopulation screening programs.
Borrowed from other cancers
From Bile duct cancer
Zanidatamab
Approved
A two-site HER2 antibody first approved for HER2-positive bile duct cancer.
From Breast cancer
Trastuzumab deruxtecan
Approved
A HER2 antibody-drug conjugate first proven in breast cancer.
Open to join now
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Claudin 18.2-positive, advanced
Zolbetuximab with pembrolizumab and chemo
Locations and eligibility → -
HER2-positive, advanced
Trastuzumab deruxtecan first-line
Locations and eligibility → -
Claudin 18.2-positive, advanced
Sonesitatug vedotin
Locations and eligibility → -
Advanced, HER2-negative
mFOLFIRINOX vs mFOLFOX, with or without nivolumab
Locations and eligibility →
See every recruiting Stomach cancer trial →
When the trials finish
Completion dates the trials registered. Results usually follow 3 to 12 months later.
- Heating up
- Maturing
- Early
- Cooling
- Fully enrolled, waiting on results
- Still enrolling
What just happened
MATTERHORN final: 69% alive at 3 years
The Lancet.
FDA approves zanidatamab regimens
HER2-positive, first treatment.
Standard treatment today
- Early, removableFLOT chemotherapy with durvalumab before and after surgery.
- Advanced, HER2-positiveZanidatamab-based regimen or trastuzumab, chemotherapy and pembrolizumab.
- Advanced, claudin 18.2-positiveZolbetuximab with chemotherapy.
- Advanced, otherChemotherapy with nivolumab or pembrolizumab (mainly if PD-L1 positive).
- PreventionTest and treat H. pylori infection.
How to read this page, and sourcesHow to read this page, and sources
- Results cover stomach and gastroesophageal junction adenocarcinoma; squamous cell esophageal cancer has its own outlook page.
- Forecasts are editorial judgments by Find a Trial, not predictions from sponsors or regulators.
See Stomach cancer trials recruiting now →