Clinical trial Recruiting at 219 sites Phase 3 Interventional Ages 18 and up

Combination treatment for advanced HER2-positive gastric cancer

Official title: A Multicenter, Randomized, Open-Label, Phase 3 Trial of Trastuzumab Deruxtecan (Enhertu®) Plus Chemotherapy Plus or Minus Pembrolizumab Versus Chemotherapy Plus Trastuzumab Plus or Minus Pembrolizumab as First-Line Treatment in Participants With Unresectable, Locally Advanced or Metastatic HER2-Positive Gastric Or Gastroesophageal Junction (GEJ) Cancer (Destiny-Gastric05)

Run by Daiichi Sankyo · NCT06731478 · Data updated 2026-11-12

This study is testing a new combination treatment for adults with advanced HER2-positive gastric cancer to see if it works better than the standard treatment.

Quick facts

PhasePhase 3
Study typeInterventional
Ages18 Years and up
SexAll
Enrollment726 (estimated)
SponsorDaiichi Sankyo
Industry-sponsored
Drugs / interventionstrastuzumab, chemotherapy, pembrolizumab
Locations250 sites (New Haven, Connecticut and 249 other locations)
StatusRecruiting
StartedFebruary 27, 2025
Main results expectedJune 1, 2028
Study endsFebruary 1, 2030
Registry record updatedAugust 10, 2026
Trial IDNCT06731478 on ClinicalTrials.gov

Is this trial a fit for you?

Likely a good fit

Ideal candidates are adults with unresectable, locally advanced, or metastatic HER2-positive gastric or gastroesophageal junction adenocarcinoma who have not received prior treatment.

Probably not a fit

Patients with resectable tumors or those who have received prior treatment for their condition may not benefit from this study.

A plain-English reading of the study's rules. Only the study team can confirm whether you qualify.

What this trial studies

This clinical trial evaluates the effectiveness and safety of a combination therapy involving trastuzumab deruxtecan, chemotherapy, and pembrolizumab compared to standard chemotherapy and trastuzumab in patients with unresectable, locally advanced, or metastatic HER2-positive gastric or gastroesophageal junction cancer. The study includes a main cohort for patients with PD-L1 CPS ≥1 and an exploratory cohort for those with PD-L1 CPS <1. Participants must be adults aged 18 and older and have not received prior treatment for their condition.

Why it matters

Potential benefit: If successful, this treatment could provide a more effective first-line therapy option for patients with advanced HER2-positive gastric cancer.

How similar studies have gone: Other studies have shown promising results with similar combination therapies in treating HER2-positive cancers, indicating potential for success in this approach.

Who can join: the full rules

Show full inclusion / exclusion criteria
Inclusion Criteria

1. Sign and date the Tissue Prescreening ICF, prior to central HER2 and PD-L1 CPS testing. Sign and date the Main Screening ICF, prior to the start of any trial-specific qualification procedures. Sign and date the Optional PGx ICF (included in the Main Screening ICF) prior to any PGx procedure.
2. Adults ≥18 years of age on the day of signing the ICF. Follow local regulatory requirements if the legal age of consent for trial participation is \>18 years old.
3. Previously untreated, unresectable, locally advanced or metastatic gastric or GEJ adenocarcinoma histologically confirmed by pathology report. Prior treatment in the perioperative and/or adjuvant setting is permissible, provided there is \>6 months between the end of perioperative or neoadjuvant treatment and the diagnosis of recurrent disease.

   Note: Prior use of IO (ie, anti-PD-1/PD-L1) therapy in the (neo)adjuvant setting is allowed as long as there is \>6 months between the end of IO therapy and the diagnosis of recurrent disease.
4. Centrally determined HER2-positive (IHC 3+ or IHC 2+/ISH-positive) gastric or GEJ cancer as classified by the American Society of Clinical Oncology-College of American Pathologists for GC on a tumor biopsy as detected by prospective central test on new (core, incisional, excisional biopsy) or existing tumor tissue taken at the time of diagnosis of locally advanced or metastatic disease.

   Note: Archival samples taken from a previous diagnostic or surgical biopsy not previously irradiated can be accepted. Details pertaining to tumor tissue submission can be found in the Study Laboratory Manual.
5. Centrally determined tumor PD-L1 CPS using the PD-L1 assay:

   * For the Main Cohort: PD-L1 CPS ≥1
   * For the Exploratory Cohort: PD-L1 CPS \<1
6. All participants must provide a tumor sample for tissue-based IHC staining to centrally determine HER2 expression, PD-L1 CPS, and other correlatives. The mandatory FFPE or new biopsy tumor sample can be from either the primary tumor or metastatic biopsy. Specimens with limited tumor content (as centrally determined) and cytology samples are inadequate for defining tumor HER2 and PD-L1 status.
7. At least 1 target measurable lesion on CT or MRI, assessed by the investigator based on RECIST v1.1. Lesions situated in a previously irradiated area are considered measurable if progression has been shown in such lesions.
8. LVEF ≥50% within 28 days before randomization.

Exclusion Criteria

1. Prior exposure to other HER2-targeting therapies (including ADCs).
2. Lack of physiological integrity of the upper gastrointestinal tract (ie, severe Crohn disease that results in malabsorption) or malabsorption syndrome that would preclude feasibility of oral chemotherapy for participants planned to be offered capecitabine as part of the study treatment.
3. Known total or partial DPD enzyme deficiency. Note: Screening for DPD enzyme deficiency is required only in regions/countries where DPD testing is SoC and with unknown DPD status. For regions/countries where DPD testing is not SoC, local practice should be followed. In Spain and Italy, screening for DPD enzyme deficiency is mandatory for all participants with unknown DPD status.
4. Contraindications to trastuzumab, 5-FU, capecitabine, cisplatin, or oxaliplatin treatment as per local label.
5. Medical history of myocardial infarction within 6 months before randomization or symptomatic CHF (New York Heart Association Class II to IV). Participants with troponin levels above ULN at Screening (as defined by the manufacturer) and without any myocardial infarction -related symptoms should have a cardiologic consultation during the Screening Period to rule out myocardial infarction.
6. Has a corrected QT interval (QTcF) prolongation to \>470 ms (females) or \>450 ms (males) based on the average of the screening triplicate 12-lead ECG.
7. Has a history of (non-infectious) ILD/pneumonitis that required steroids, has current ILD/pneumonitis, or where suspected ILD/pneumonitis cannot be ruled out by imaging at Screening
8. Lung-specific intercurrent clinically significant illnesses including, but not limited to, any underlying pulmonary disorder (eg, pulmonary emboli within 3 months of the trial randomization, severe asthma, severe chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, restrictive lung disease, pleural effusion, etc).

Where it's running

  • Orchard Healthcare Research Inc.
    Skokie, Illinois, United States
    Recruiting
  • Tufts Medical Center
    Boston, Massachusetts, United States
    Recruiting
  • University of Michigan Comprehensive Cancer Center Michigan Medicine
    Ann Arbor, Michigan, United States
    Recruiting
  • Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center - MAIN
    New York, New York, United States
    Recruiting
  • Montefiore Medical Center
    The Bronx, New York, United States
    Recruiting
  • Providence Portland Medical Center
    Portland, Oregon, United States
    Recruiting
Show 44 more locations
  • Penn State University Milton S. Hershey Medical Center
    Hershey, Pennsylvania, United States
    Recruiting
  • Prisma Health Cancer Institute, ITOR, CRU
    Greenville, South Carolina, United States
    Recruiting
  • UT Southwestern Medical Center
    Dallas, Texas, United States
    Recruiting
  • Instituto Medico Especializado Alexander Fleming
    Buenos Aires, Argentina
    Recruiting
  • Clinica Universitaria Privada Reina Fabiola
    Córdoba, Argentina
    Recruiting
  • Centro de Investigaciones Medicas Mar del Plata
    Mar del Plata, Argentina
    Recruiting
  • Instituto Medico de la Fundacion Estudios Clinicos
    Rosario, Argentina
    Recruiting
  • Flinders Medical Centre
    Bedford Park, Australia
    Recruiting
  • Monash Medical Centre Clayton
    Clayton, Australia
    Recruiting
  • Townsville University Hospital
    Douglas, Australia
    Recruiting
  • Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre
    North Melbourne, Australia
    Recruiting
  • GenesisCare North Shore (Oncology)
    St Leonards, Australia
    Recruiting
  • St John of God Subiaco Hospital
    Subiaco, Australia
    Recruiting
  • Wollongong Hospital
    Wollongong, Australia
    Recruiting
  • LKH - Universitaetsklinikum Graz
    Graz, Austria
    Recruiting
  • Medizinische Universität Innsbruck
    Innsbruck, Austria
    Recruiting
  • Medizinische Universität Wien
    Vienna, Austria
    Recruiting
  • St. Josef Krankenhaus Wien
    Vienna, Austria
    Recruiting
  • Landesklinikum Wiener Neustadt
    Wiener Neustadt, Austria
    Recruiting
  • Institut Jules Bordet
    Anderlecht, Belgium
    Recruiting
  • AZ Sint-Lucas
    Bruges, Belgium
    Recruiting
  • Cliniques Universitaires Saint-Luc
    Brussels, Belgium
    Recruiting
  • UZ Leuven
    Leuven, Belgium
    Recruiting
  • Centre Hospitalier Universitaire de Liege
    Liège, Belgium
    Recruiting
  • CHU UCL Namur
    Namur, Belgium
    Recruiting
  • Centro de Oncologia - Unidade Brasilia - Hospital Sirio Libanes
    Brasília, Brazil
    Recruiting
  • ICESP - Instituto do Câncer do Estado de São Paulo Octavio Frias de Oliveira Sao Paulo
    Brazil, Brazil
    Recruiting
  • CEPON - Centro de Pesquisas Oncológicas de Santa Catarina
    Florianópolis, Brazil
    Recruiting
  • Fundação Doutor Amaral Carvalho
    Jaú, Brazil
    Recruiting
  • Liga Norte-Rio-Grandense Contra o Câncer
    Natal, Brazil
    Recruiting
  • Hospital de Clínicas de Porto Alegre
    Porto Alegre, Brazil
    Recruiting
  • Hospital São Lucas da PUCRS
    Porto Alegre, Brazil
    Recruiting
  • IMIP - Instituto de Medicina Integral Professor Fernando Figueira
    Recife, Brazil
    Recruiting
  • Hospital das Clínicas FMRP-USP
    Ribeirão Preto, Brazil
    Recruiting
  • INCA - Instituto Nacional de Câncer
    Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
    Recruiting
  • Obras Sociais Irmã Dulce - Hospital Santo Antônio
    Salvador, Brazil
    Recruiting
  • Fundacao Faculdade Regional de Medicina de Sao Jose do Rio Preto
    Sao Jose Rio Preto, Brazil
    Recruiting
  • Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre
    Toronto, Canada
    Recruiting
  • Biocenter
    Concepción, Chile
    Recruiting
  • URUMED Spa
    Rancagua, Chile
    Recruiting
  • Centro de Investigacion del Maule
    Region Del Maule, Chile
    Recruiting
  • Centro de Estudios Clinicos SAGA
    Santiago, Chile
    Recruiting
  • FALP - Fundación Arturo López Pérez
    Santiago, Chile
    Recruiting
  • Beijing Cancer Hospital
    Beijing, China
    Recruiting

+200 more sites. See ClinicalTrials.gov for the full list.

Study contacts

Similar studies

Other studies for the same condition or treatment. Recruiting studies are listed first.

How to take part

  1. Review the eligibility criteria above with your treating physician.
  2. Check the official listing on ClinicalTrials.gov for the latest contact details and recruitment status.
  3. Contact the study coordinator or principal investigator to ask for pre-screening. Pre-screening is free and never obligates you to enroll.
Last reviewed 2026-11-14 by the Find a Trial editorial team. Information on this page is for educational purposes and is not medical advice. Always consult qualified healthcare professionals about clinical trial participation.