First-line modified FOLFOX plus/minus nivolumab and Ipilimumab or FLOT plus nivolumab in advanced gastroesophageal adenocarcinoma: a phase II multi-cohort IKF-AIO-MOONLIGHT trial

S Sylvie Lorenzen T Thorsten Oliver Goetze P Peter C. Thuss-Patience J Jorge Riera-Knorrenschild E Eray Goekkurt T Tobias Nicolaas Dechow T Thomas Jens Ettrich R Ralf Dieter Hofheinz K Kim Barbara Luley D Daniel Pink U Udo Lindig G Gunnar Folprecht (From Bielefeld University, Medical School and University Medical Center Ostwestfalen-Lippe, Campus Hospital Lippe, Detmold, Germany (J.H.); the Department of Radiation Oncology, Medical University of Graz, Graz, Austria (T.B.); the Clinical Trials Unit, Faculty of Medicine and Medical Center, University of Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany (C.S.); the Institute of Surgical Pathology, University Medical Center Freiburg, Germany (P.B.); the Department of Surgery, University Medical Center Schleswig-Holstein–Campus Lübeck, Lübeck, Germany (B.K., T.K.); Comprehensive Cancer Center Augsburg, Faculty of Medicine, University of Augsburg, Augsburg, Germany (R.C.); the Department of General and Visceral Surgery, University Medical Center Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany (S.U.); the Department of General, Visceral, and Thoracic Surgery, University Medical Center Hamburg–Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany (J.R.I.); the Department of Gastrointestinal Surgery, IRCCS San Raffaele Scientific Institute and San Raffaele Vita-Salute Universi...) G Gunter Schuch M Michael Bitzer V Volker Heinemann S Stefan Angermeier C Claus Bolling M Maria Loose S Sabine Junge C Claudia Pauligk S Salah-Eddin Al-Batran (Krankenhaus Nordwest, University Cancer Center (UCT) Frankfurt, and Frankfurt Institute of Clinical Cancer Research (IKF), Frankfurt, Germany)

Abstract

Abstract This multi-cohort study evaluates whether dual immune checkpoint inhibition with nivolumab and ipilimumab in parallel or sequentially, or triplet chemotherapy with nivolumab can enhance efficacy as first-line therapy for advanced or metastatic gastroesophageal adenocarcinoma. Patients are randomized 1:1 to Arm A (mFOLFOX + nivolumab 240 mg every two weeks + ipilimumab 1 mg/kg every six weeks in parallel or Arm B (mFOLFOX). Subsequently, patients are randomized 1:2 to Arm A1 (identical to Arm A) or Arm A2 (three cycles of mFOLFOX followed by nivolumab + ipilimumab). In Arm C all patients receive FLOT + nivolumab. Primary endpoint is progression-free survival. Secondary endpoints include overall survival and objective response rate. Median progression-free survival (months) is: Arm A/A1, 5.8; Arm A2, 4.0; Arm B, 6.6 and Arm C, 7.0.Toxicity is manageable across all arms, with higher rates in arms receiving dual checkpoint inhibition. Here we show that chemotherapy with dual checkpoint inhibition in parallel increases toxicity without improving efficacy, while FOLFOX followed by immunotherapy is insufficient. FLOT with nivolumab appears feasible and shows promising efficacy. ClinicalTrials.gov number NCT03647969

Article Details

Volume / Issue Vol. 17, Issue 1
Published February 27, 2026
ISSN 2041-1723
Publisher Nature Portfolio

Journal Info

Nature Communications

Nature Portfolio

ISSN: 2041-1723 Open Access Life Sciences

Authors (21)

S

Sylvie Lorenzen

T

Thorsten Oliver Goetze

P

Peter C. Thuss-Patience

J

Jorge Riera-Knorrenschild

E

Eray Goekkurt

T

Tobias Nicolaas Dechow

T

Thomas Jens Ettrich

R

Ralf Dieter Hofheinz

K

Kim Barbara Luley

D

Daniel Pink

U

Udo Lindig

G

Gunnar Folprecht

From Bielefeld University, Medical School and University Medical Center Ostwestfalen-Lippe, Campus Hospital Lippe, Detmold, Germany (J.H.); the Department of Radiation Oncology, Medical University of Graz, Graz, Austria (T.B.); the Clinical Trials Unit, Faculty of Medicine and Medical Center, University of Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany (C.S.); the Institute of Surgical Pathology, University Medical Center Freiburg, Germany (P.B.); the Department of Surgery, University Medical Center Schleswig-Holstein–Campus Lübeck, Lübeck, Germany (B.K., T.K.); Comprehensive Cancer Center Augsburg, Faculty of Medicine, University of Augsburg, Augsburg, Germany (R.C.); the Department of General and Visceral Surgery, University Medical Center Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany (S.U.); the Department of General, Visceral, and Thoracic Surgery, University Medical Center Hamburg–Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany (J.R.I.); the Department of Gastrointestinal Surgery, IRCCS San Raffaele Scientific Institute and San Raffaele Vita-Salute Universi...

G

Gunter Schuch

M

Michael Bitzer

V

Volker Heinemann

S

Stefan Angermeier

C

Claus Bolling

M

Maria Loose

S

Sabine Junge

C

Claudia Pauligk

S

Salah-Eddin Al-Batran

Krankenhaus Nordwest, University Cancer Center (UCT) Frankfurt, and Frankfurt Institute of Clinical Cancer Research (IKF), Frankfurt, Germany