Gastroesophageal Junction (GEJ) AdenocarcinomaPhase 2NCT07018570
An Open Label Phase 2 Study of Total Neoadjuvant Therapy (TNT) Consisting of FLOT With Pembrolizumab and Short Radiation for Patients With Locally Advanced Gastroesophageal Junction Adenocarcinoma
A Phase 2 study testing Pembrolizumab, Docetaxel and Oxaliplatin in people with Gastroesophageal Junction (GEJ) Adenocarcinoma, run by National Cancer Center Hospital East at 1 site in Japan.
Trial summary
This study is to evaluate the effectiveness of treatment for esophagogastric junction carcinoma, total neoadjuvant therapy (TNT) including pembrolizumab and FLOT is conducted, aiming to choose between surgery or organ preservation treatment strategies. Read more about this study
- Who is it for?
- Ages 18 years and older
- Conditions the study is for
- Gastroesophageal Junction (GEJ) Adenocarcinoma
- What is being tested?
- Pembrolizumab, Docetaxel and Oxaliplatin
- Type of treatment
- Injection or infusion, Surgery or procedure
- Could I receive a placebo?
- No, everyone receives an active treatment
- How many people
- 26 participants
- Where
- 1 siteJapan
- Study dates
- 24 Jul 2025to Jun 2031
- Phase
- Phase 2
- Are there results?
- Not yet: the study is under way
Key requirements
Who can take part, as listed by the sponsor. Only the study team can confirm whether you are eligible, so take this list to your doctor.
- Ages 18 years and older
- All sexes
- No healthy volunteers
- Adult, Older adult
<Inclusion Criteria>
- Patients with histologically confirmed esophagogastric junction adenocarcinoma.
- Patients who are naive to systemic therapy and have esophagogastric junction carcinoma of Siewert Type I to III classified as T: 2-4, N: any, and M: 0 according to the 8th edition of the UICC-TNM classification.
- Patients aged 18 years or older as of the day of informed consent.
- Patients with ECOG Performance Status (PS) 0 or 1.
- Patients whose most recent laboratory values within 14 days before registration meet all of the following criteria (testing on the same day of the week two weeks before the date of registration is acceptable).
[1] Neutrophil count ≥1,500/mm3 [2] Hemoglobin ≥9.0 g/dL [3] Platelet counts ≥100,000/mm3 [4] Total bilirubin ≤1.5 mg/dL [5] AST (GOT) ≤100 IU/L [6] ALT (GPT) ≤100 IU/L [7] Serum creatinine ≤1.5 mg/dL 6) Patients who did not receive blood transfusion within 7 days before registration (ineligible if transfusion was performed on the same day of the week one week before the date of registration).
7)Female patients of childbearing potential who tested negative for pregnancy within 14 days before registration. Male and female patients who have agreed to practice appropriate highly effective contraception with low user dependency during the study and for up to 120 days after discontinuation of the investigational drug.
8)Patients who have given consent to provide samples for biomarker analysis. 9)Patients who have given their own written consent to participate in the study
<Exclusion Criteria>
- Patients with a history of using an anti-PD-1, anti-PD-L1, or anti-PD-L2 antibody.
- Patients with a history of acute coronary syndrome (including myocardial infarction and angina unstable), coronary angioplasty, or stent implantation within 6 months before registration.
- Patients with a history or findings of congestive heart failure of Class II or higher according to the New York Heart Association (NYHA) classification of cardiac function.
- Patient with active double cancers [simultaneous double cancers and metachronous double cancers with a disease-free interval of ≤2 years. However, carcinoma in situ or lesions equivalent to intramucosal carcinoma judged to have been cured by local treatment shall not be included in active double cancers].
- Patients with serious (requiring hospitalization) complications (e.g., intestinal paralysis, intestinal obstruction, pulmonary fibrosis, difficult-to-control diabetes mellitus, cardiac failure, myocardial infarction, angina unstable, renal failure, hepatic failure, psychiatric disorder, cerebrovascular disorder).
- Patients with active hepatitis B (HBs antigen positive) or hepatitis C.
- Patients with a history of HIV.
- Patients with complicated interstitial lung disease/pneumonitis or with a history of (non-infectious) interstitial lung disease/pneumonitis requiring steroid administration.
- Patients who received a live vaccine within 30 days before the start of investigational drug administration.
- Patients with concomitant autoimmune disease or a history of chronic or recurrent autoimmune disease.
- Patients who require systemic corticosteroids (except for prophylactic administration for testing or allergic reactions, or temporary use to reduce edema associated with radiotherapy) or immunosuppressive medication, or those who have received any of these treatments within 14 days before registration in this study.
- Patients with unhealed wounds (requiring sutures, antimicrobial administration, and cleaning procedures), ulcers, or fractures.
- Pregnant or lactating patients.
- Patients who are unwilling or unable to comply with the study protocol.
- Patients deemed by the investigator to be ineligible for this study.
Trial locations and contacts
1 site in 1 country. Contact the study team or a site near you to ask about taking part.
Japan1 site, 1 recruiting
- Recruiting
National Cancer Center Hospital East
Kashiwa, Chiba, 277
Kohei Shitara, MD, +81-4-7133-1111 ext. 91520, pemflot-tnt@east.ncc.go.jp
Izuma Nakayama, MD, +81-4-7133-1111 ext. 92339, pemflot-tnt@east.ncc.go.jp
About this study
This study is to evaluate the effectiveness of treatment for esophagogastric junction carcinoma, total neoadjuvant therapy (TNT) including pembrolizumab and FLOT is conducted, aiming to choose between surgery or organ preservation treatment strategies.
Read the detailed description
In Immunochemotherapy before short-term radiation therapy, pembrolizumab 200mg will be intravenously infused at 21-day intervals for 2 doses. FLOT (docetaxel 50 mg/m2, oxaliplatin 85 mg/m2, leucovorin 200mg/m2, 5-FU 2600 mg/m2) will be intravenously infused at 14-day intervals for 2 doses.
Regarding short-term radiotherapy, irradiation will be delivered from day1 to day5, with a dose of 5 Gy per fraction for a total of 25 Gy.
In Immunochemotherapy after short-term radiation therapy, pembrolizumab 200mg will be intravenously infused on day 8. FLOT will be intravenously infused on day 1 and day15.
If CR or Near CR is achieved after the first and second efficacy assessment, pembrolizumab 200mg will be intravenously infused at 21-day intervals for 14 doses and FLOT will be intravenously infused at 14-day intervals for 4 doses as immunochemotherapy as non-operative management (NOM).
If CR or Near CR is not achieved after the first or second efficacy assessment, surgery will be performed. And then pembrolizumab 200mg will be intravenously infused at 21-day intervals for 14 doses and FLOT will be intravenously infused at 14-day intervals for 4 doses as Postoperative adjuvant immunochemotherapy.
- Being tested
- Pembrolizumab, Docetaxel, Oxaliplatin, Levofolinate, Fluorouracil (5-FU)
- Keywords
- Esophagogastric junction carcinoma, Total neoadjuvant therapy, TNT, Radiation, Surgery, Pembrolizumab, FLOT, Chemotherapy, Non-operative management, QOL, Phase II
- Medical subject headings
- Adenocarcinoma
What participants receive
What participants receive. In a randomised study each person is assigned to one group by chance.
PembrolizumabDrug
Pembrolizumab 200mg will be administered via intravenous infusion over 30 minutes, twice at 21-day intervals.
DocetaxelDrug
Docetaxel 50 mg/m2 will be administered over 60 minutes.
OxaliplatinDrug
Oxaliplatin 85 mg/m2 will be administered over 2 hours.
LevofolinateDrug
Leucovorin 200 mg/m2 will be administered over 2 hours.
Fluorouracil (5-FU)Drug
5-FU 2600 mg/m2 will be administered over 24 hours.
Radiation TherapyRadiation
25Gy (5Gy×5fr)
| Study group | Role | What they receive |
|---|---|---|
| Pembrolizumab plus FLOT, Ratiation | Experimental | Not described Receives: Drug: Pembrolizumab; Drug: Docetaxel; Drug: Oxaliplatin; Drug: Levofolinate; Drug: Fluorouracil (5-FU); Radiation: Radiation Therapy |
What is being measured
The primary outcome is the main question the study is designed to answer.
3-year event-free survival (EFS) rate
Measured: 3 years
Secondary outcomes (13)
Organ-sparing survival
Measured: 3 years
Overall survival (OS)
Measured: 3 years
Clinical response rate
Measured: 3 years
Clinical complete response rate
Measured: 3 years
Major pathological response rate (MPR rate)
Measured: 3 years
Pathological complete response rate (pCR rate)
Measured: 3 years
R0 resection rate (R0 rate)
Measured: 3 years
TNT completion rate
Measured: 3 years
Treatment completion rate
Measured: 3 years
Adverse event incidence rate
Measured: 3 years
Post-treatment ctDNA clearance
Measured: 3 years
EORTC QLQ-C30
We are reporting scores from the EORTC QLQ-C30 (European Organisation for Research and Treatment of Cancer Quality of Life Questionnaire-Core 30).
The scores were transformed to a 0-100 scale following the official EORTC scoring manual. For functional scales and global health status, higher scores indicate a better outcome. For symptom scales/items, higher scores indicate a worse outcome.
Measured: 3 years
EORTC QLQ-OG25
We are reporting scores from the EORTC QLQ-OG25 (European Organisation for Research and Treatment of Cancer Quality of Life Questionnaire - Oesophago-Gastric module).
The scores were transformed to a 0-100 scale following the official EORTC scoring manual. All scales and single items in the QLQ-OG25 are symptom-based. Therefore, higher scores indicate worse symptoms or poorer quality of life.
Measured: 3 years
Timeline
From the start of the study to its completion; the mark is today. Estimated dates are the sponsor’s plan.
- First posted12 Jun 2025
- Study start24 Jul 2025
- Primary completionJun 2030 (estimated)
- Study completionJun 2031 (estimated)
Resources
- Official record on ClinicalTrials.govThe registry entry this page is built from, with its full change history.
- Other trials for Gastroesophageal Junction (GEJ) AdenocarcinomaStudies of the same condition, open and under way.
- What the trial phases meanHow a treatment moves from first tests in people to approval.
More details
For doctors and researchers: how the study is designed, who runs it, and its registry IDs.
Study design
- Study type
- Interventional
- Phase
- Phase 2
- Primary purpose
- Treatment
- Allocation
- Not applicable
- Intervention model
- Single group
- Masking
- None (open label)
- Enrolment
- 26 participants (estimated)
Sponsor and investigators
- Lead sponsor
- National Cancer Center Hospital East
- Sponsor type
- University, hospital or other
- Collaborators
- Merck Sharp & Dohme LLC
- Responsible party
- Principal investigator, Kohei Shitara, National Cancer Center Hospital East
IDs, dates and publications
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT07018570
- Sponsor's protocol ID
- EPOC2301
- Status last verified
- Jul 2025
- First submitted
- 4 Jun 2025
- Last updated
- 26 Aug 2025
- Results posted
- No
- Data monitoring committee
- No
- FDA-regulated drug
- No
- FDA-regulated device
- No
- Individual data sharing
- No
Study at a glance
From the registry record, last updated by the sponsor on 26 Aug 2025. Recruitment status is as the sponsor reported it: confirm with the study team.
- Official title
- An Open Label Phase 2 Study of Total Neoadjuvant Therapy (TNT) Consisting of FLOT With Pembrolizumab and Short Radiation for Patients With Locally Advanced Gastroesophageal Junction Adenocarcinoma
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT07018570
- Acronym / sponsor ID
- EPOC2301
- Keywords
- Esophagogastric junction carcinoma, Total neoadjuvant therapy, TNT, Radiation, Surgery, Pembrolizumab, FLOT, Chemotherapy
- Phase
- Phase 2
- Study type
- Interventional
- Recruitment status
- Recruiting
- Enrolment
- 26 participants (estimated)
- Lead sponsor
- National Cancer Center Hospital EastUniversity, hospital or other
- Collaborators
- Merck Sharp & Dohme LLC
- Study start
- 24 Jul 2025 (actual)
- Primary completion
- Jun 2030 (estimated)
- Study completion
- Jun 2031 (estimated)
- First posted
- 12 Jun 2025 (actual)
- Results
- Not posted in the source record
Clinical summary
The research question as the sponsor registered it. This describes what the study plans to test, not what it found.
This study is to evaluate the effectiveness of treatment for esophagogastric junction carcinoma, total neoadjuvant therapy (TNT) including pembrolizumab and FLOT is conducted, aiming to choose between surgery or organ preservation treatment strategies.
Detailed description
In Immunochemotherapy before short-term radiation therapy, pembrolizumab 200mg will be intravenously infused at 21-day intervals for 2 doses. FLOT (docetaxel 50 mg/m2, oxaliplatin 85 mg/m2, leucovorin 200mg/m2, 5-FU 2600 mg/m2) will be intravenously infused at 14-day intervals for 2 doses.
Regarding short-term radiotherapy, irradiation will be delivered from day1 to day5, with a dose of 5 Gy per fraction for a total of 25 Gy.
In Immunochemotherapy after short-term radiation therapy, pembrolizumab 200mg will be intravenously infused on day 8. FLOT will be intravenously infused on day 1 and day15.
If CR or Near CR is achieved after the first and second efficacy assessment, pembrolizumab 200mg will be intravenously infused at 21-day intervals for 14 doses and FLOT will be intravenously infused at 14-day intervals for 4 doses as immunochemotherapy as non-operative management (NOM).
If CR or Near CR is not achieved after the first or second efficacy assessment, surgery will be performed. And then pembrolizumab 200mg will be intravenously infused at 21-day intervals for 14 doses and FLOT will be intravenously infused at 14-day intervals for 4 doses as Postoperative adjuvant immunochemotherapy.
Study design
- Primary purpose
- Treatment
- Allocation
- Not applicable
- Intervention model
- Single group
- Masking
- None (open label)
- Number of arms
- 1
| Arm | Type | Receives |
|---|---|---|
| Pembrolizumab plus FLOT, Ratiation | Experimental | Drug: Pembrolizumab, Drug: Docetaxel, Drug: Oxaliplatin, Drug: Levofolinate, Drug: Fluorouracil (5-FU), Radiation: Radiation Therapy |
Who may qualify
- Ages
- 18 years and older
- Sex
- All
- Healthy volunteers
- Not accepted
- Age groups
- Adult, Older adult
Eligibility is decided by the study team after screening; this overview does not establish that a patient qualifies. Full inclusion and exclusion criteria.
Interventions
| Intervention | Type | Arms |
|---|---|---|
| PembrolizumabPembrolizumab 200mg will be administered via intravenous infusion over 30 minutes, twice at 21-day intervals. | Drug | Pembrolizumab plus FLOT, Ratiation |
| DocetaxelDocetaxel 50 mg/m2 will be administered over 60 minutes. | Drug | Pembrolizumab plus FLOT, Ratiation |
| OxaliplatinOxaliplatin 85 mg/m2 will be administered over 2 hours. | Drug | Pembrolizumab plus FLOT, Ratiation |
| LevofolinateLeucovorin 200 mg/m2 will be administered over 2 hours. | Drug | Pembrolizumab plus FLOT, Ratiation |
| Fluorouracil (5-FU)5-FU 2600 mg/m2 will be administered over 24 hours. | Drug | Pembrolizumab plus FLOT, Ratiation |
| Radiation Therapy25Gy (5Gy×5fr) | Radiation | Pembrolizumab plus FLOT, Ratiation |
Primary outcome
3-year event-free survival (EFS) rate
Time frame: 3 years
13 secondary outcomes
Organ-sparing survival
Time frame: 3 years
Overall survival (OS)
Time frame: 3 years
Clinical response rate
Time frame: 3 years
Clinical complete response rate
Time frame: 3 years
Major pathological response rate (MPR rate)
Time frame: 3 years
Pathological complete response rate (pCR rate)
Time frame: 3 years
R0 resection rate (R0 rate)
Time frame: 3 years
TNT completion rate
Time frame: 3 years
Treatment completion rate
Time frame: 3 years
Adverse event incidence rate
Time frame: 3 years
Post-treatment ctDNA clearance
Time frame: 3 years
EORTC QLQ-C30
Time frame: 3 years
EORTC QLQ-OG25
Time frame: 3 years
Results and safety
This study is still under way. Results are not available in the source record yet.
Research links
- Official record on ClinicalTrials.govLast updated by the sponsor 26 Aug 2025.
- Individual participant dataSharing planned: No
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Referral and contact
AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals. Contact the study team or a site listed below; they decide who can take part.
1 site in 1 country: see every site and its status.
Questions about this trial
What is this clinical trial studying?
A Phase 2 study testing Pembrolizumab, Docetaxel and Oxaliplatin in people with Gastroesophageal Junction (GEJ) Adenocarcinoma, run by National Cancer Center Hospital East at 1 site in Japan.
The full registered description is in the About this study section and the official record.
Who may be eligible to take part?
Eligibility is decided by the study team after screening, so read the full criteria and contact a listed site.
Is this clinical trial currently recruiting?
The record says: looking for participants now, as of the sponsor's last update on 26 Aug 2025. Status can change between updates, so confirm with the study contact before making plans.
Where is the study taking place?
The record lists 1 site in Japan. Whether a site is taking part right now should be confirmed with that site. See every site.
What are the possible benefits and risks?
They depend on the study and the treatment, and no study can promise a benefit. The study team explains the known risks during informed consent, before anyone joins; the record itself does not list them.
What does this phase mean?
Phase 2 studies give the treatment to a larger group to see whether it has the intended effect and to keep checking safety.
Not every study follows the same path, and some studies (observational studies, device studies) have no phase.
Are results available for this study?
This study is still under way. Results are not available in the source record yet.
How can a doctor refer a patient or contact the research team?
Contact Kohei Shitara, MD (+81-4-7133-1111 ext. 91520, pemflot-tnt@east.ncc.go.jp), or a site near the patient. AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals.
What does the primary outcome measure?
3-year event-free survival (EFS) rate (time frame: 3 years). It is what the study was designed to measure, not a finding.
Where can I read the original study information?
Does a listing mean the treatment is approved or proven to work?
No. A listing means the study is registered. It does not show that the treatment is safe, works, or is approved by a regulator.
How often is this information updated?
AzTrials copies changed records from ClinicalTrials.gov every night and reloads the whole registry every week. The sponsor last updated this record on 26 Aug 2025.