Prevalence of FGFR2b Protein Overexpression in Advanced Gastric Cancers During Prescreening for the Phase III FORTITUDE-101 Trial

Abstract

Purpose: Fibroblast growth factor receptor 2 isoform IIIb (FGFR2b) protein overexpression is an emerging biomarker in gastric cancer and gastroesophageal junction cancer (GC). We assessed FGFR2b protein overexpression prevalence in nearly 3,800 tumor samples as part of the prescreening process for a global phase III study in patients with newly diagnosed advanced or metastatic GC.

Methods: As of June 28, 2024, 3,782 tumor samples from prescreened patients from 37 countries for the phase III FORTITUDE-101 trial (ClinicalTrials.gov identifier: NCT05052801) were centrally tested for FGFR2b protein overexpression by immunohistochemistry (IHC) and had evaluable results. FGFR2b positivity was defined as both any % tumor cells (TC) and ≥10% TC exhibiting moderate-to-strong (2+/3+) membranous FGFR2b staining. Prevalence was analyzed across patient and sample characteristics.

Results: FGFR2b protein overexpression at any % and ≥10%, 2+/3+ TC positivity was 37.8% (1,428/3,782 [95% CI, 36.2 to 39.3]) and 16.2% (612/3,782 [95% CI, 15 to 17.4]), respectively. Of any %, 2+/3+ TC-positive tumors, 42.9% (612/1,428 [95% CI, 40.3 to 45.4]) were FGFR2b ≥10%, 2+/3+ TC positive. FGFR2b prevalence was not notably different within multiple patient and sample characteristics examined (age, sex, collection method [biopsy v resection], collection site, location of primary tumor, and geographic region).

Conclusion: As of the data cutoff date, we report the largest prevalence assessment of FGFR2b protein overexpression in GC with more than one third (37.8%) of patients with GC exhibiting FGFR2b protein overexpression (any % TC, 2+/3+) by a validated IHC assay. Approximately 16% of patients had FGFR2b protein overexpression in ≥10% of TC. FGFR2b prevalence was similar across geographic regions and within defined patient and sample variables regardless of the level of expression.