Featured Publications
Effectiveness of Immune Checkpoint Inhibitors in Patients With Advanced Esophageal Squamous Cell Carcinoma
Yap D, Leone A, Wong N, Zhao J, Tey J, Sundar R, Pietrantonio F. Effectiveness of Immune Checkpoint Inhibitors in Patients With Advanced Esophageal Squamous Cell Carcinoma. JAMA Oncology 2023, 9: 215-224. PMID: 36480211, PMCID: PMC9857522, DOI: 10.1001/jamaoncol.2022.5816.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchMeSH KeywordsB7-H1 AntigenEsophageal NeoplasmsEsophageal Squamous Cell CarcinomaHumansImmune Checkpoint InhibitorsLung NeoplasmsConceptsAdvanced esophageal squamous cell carcinomaImmune checkpoint inhibitorsEsophageal squamous cell carcinomaSquamous cell carcinomaPD-L1 expressionKaplan-Meier curvesLow PD-L1 expressionFirst-line trialsProgression-free survivalDuration of responsePD-L1Overall survivalCell carcinomaRandomized clinical trialsPooled analysisClinical trialsCheckpoint inhibitorsTumor proportionEffect of immune checkpoint inhibitorsLow programmed death ligand 1Benefit of immune checkpoint inhibitorsHazard ratioSurvival dataFirst-line settingICI-based regimensChoice of PD-L1 immunohistochemistry assay influences clinical eligibility for gastric cancer immunotherapy
Yeong J, Lum H, Teo C, Tan B, Chan Y, Tay R, Choo J, Jeyasekharan A, Miow Q, Loo L, Yong W, Sundar R. Choice of PD-L1 immunohistochemistry assay influences clinical eligibility for gastric cancer immunotherapy. Gastric Cancer 2022, 25: 741-750. PMID: 35661944, PMCID: PMC9226082, DOI: 10.1007/s10120-022-01301-0.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchMeSH KeywordsB7-H1 AntigenBiomarkers, TumorCross-Sectional StudiesHumansImmunohistochemistryImmunotherapyStomach NeoplasmsConceptsCombined positive scorePD-L1 combined positive scoreTumor proportion scorePD-L1Gastric cancerImmune cellsPD-L1 immunohistochemistry assaysProgrammed death-ligand 1Resection of gastric cancerStandard-of-care treatmentBackgroundImmune checkpoint inhibitorsGastric cancer immunotherapyPD-L1 positivityPD-L1 scoringPD-L1 immunohistochemistryDeath-ligand 1Metastatic gastric cancerPD-L1-positive samplesInter-assay concordanceCheckpoint inhibitorsDako 22C3ICI therapyCross-sectional studyCancer immunotherapyPatient selectionLow Programmed Death-Ligand 1–Expressing Subgroup Outcomes of First-Line Immune Checkpoint Inhibitors in Gastric or Esophageal Adenocarcinoma
Zhao J, Yap D, Chan Y, Tan B, Teo C, Syn N, Smyth E, Soon Y, Sundar R. Low Programmed Death-Ligand 1–Expressing Subgroup Outcomes of First-Line Immune Checkpoint Inhibitors in Gastric or Esophageal Adenocarcinoma. Journal Of Clinical Oncology 2021, 40: 392-402. PMID: 34860570, DOI: 10.1200/jco.21.01862.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsProgrammed death-ligand 1Combined positive scoreImmune checkpoint inhibitorsKEYNOTE-062First-line treatmentCheckMate-649Checkpoint inhibitorsEsophageal adenocarcinomaKaplan-MeierEstimate time-to-event outcomesFirst-line immune checkpoint inhibitorsPD-L1 combined positive scoreProgrammed death ligand 1 subgroupsPatients treated with pembrolizumabPD-L1-expressing tumorsRandomized phase III trialEfficacy of ICIsPD-L1 subgroupsProgression-free survivalDeath-ligand 1Phase III trialsUS Food and Drug AdministrationPrimary manuscriptsFood and Drug AdministrationCPS-1
2024
Inconsistencies in the predictive value of PD-L1 in metastatic gastroesophageal cancer
Sundar R, Smyth E. Inconsistencies in the predictive value of PD-L1 in metastatic gastroesophageal cancer. The Lancet Gastroenterology & Hepatology 2024, 9: 495-497. PMID: 38492581, DOI: 10.1016/s2468-1253(24)00043-8.Commentaries, Editorials and Letters
2023
Controversies in upper GI oncology: first-line checkpoint inhibitor use in metastatic GEA: guided by PD-L1 CPS or not?
Petrillo A, Maron S, Sundar R. Controversies in upper GI oncology: first-line checkpoint inhibitor use in metastatic GEA: guided by PD-L1 CPS or not? ESMO Open 2023, 8: 101211. PMID: 37054477, PMCID: PMC10123152, DOI: 10.1016/j.esmoop.2023.101211.Commentaries, Editorials and LettersClinical relevance of PD-1 positive CD8 T-cells in gastric cancer
Choo J, Kua L, Soe M, Asuncion B, Tan B, Teo C, Tay R, So J, Shabbir A, Guowei K, Tan H, Chan G, Ma H, Ramachandran G, Lum J, Chee C, Sridharan S, Tan P, Sundar R, Yong W. Clinical relevance of PD-1 positive CD8 T-cells in gastric cancer. Gastric Cancer 2023, 26: 393-404. PMID: 36781556, PMCID: PMC10115710, DOI: 10.1007/s10120-023-01364-7.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsCD8 T cellsPD-1+CD8+ T cellsT cellsTumor microenvironmentPD-1Overall survivalGastric cancerMultiplex immunohistochemistryT cell-inflamed tumor microenvironmentAssociated with improved OSIncreased PD-1 expressionClinical relevanceGranzyme-B expressionInflamed tumor microenvironmentPD-1 expressionInfluence overall survivalNK cell proportionTreated with immunotherapyPhase 2 trialAssociated with chemotherapyCox proportional hazards modelsProportional hazards modelImproved OSImmunotherapy sensitivityNK cells
2022
Reply to: Letter to editor on the article “Choice of PD-L1 immunohistochemistry assay influences clinical eligibility for gastric cancer immunotherapy”
Yeong J, Teo C, Tay R, Tan B, Chan Y, Smyth E, Sundar R. Reply to: Letter to editor on the article “Choice of PD-L1 immunohistochemistry assay influences clinical eligibility for gastric cancer immunotherapy”. Gastric Cancer 2022, 25: 1133-1135. PMID: 36152122, DOI: 10.1007/s10120-022-01343-4.Peer-Reviewed Original Research
2018
Transcriptional analysis of immune genes in Epstein–Barr virus-associated gastric cancer and association with clinical outcomes
Sundar R, Qamra A, Tan A, Zhang S, Ng C, Teh B, Lee J, Kim K, Tan P. Transcriptional analysis of immune genes in Epstein–Barr virus-associated gastric cancer and association with clinical outcomes. Gastric Cancer 2018, 21: 1064-1070. PMID: 29915957, DOI: 10.1007/s10120-018-0851-9.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchMeSH KeywordsAdultAgedB7-H1 AntigenBiomarkers, TumorCD8 AntigensCohort StudiesDisease-Free SurvivalEpstein-Barr Virus InfectionsFemaleGene Expression ProfilingGene Expression Regulation, NeoplasticHerpesvirus 4, HumanHumansImmunohistochemistryLymphocytes, Tumor-InfiltratingMaleMiddle AgedPerforinProgrammed Cell Death 1 ReceptorStomach NeoplasmsConceptsPD-L1PD-L1highPD-L1lowEBVaGC samplesImmune-related genesAssociated with worse disease-free survivalGastric cancerPD-L1 immunohistochemistry expressionPD-L1 transcript expressionExpression of PD-L1Levels of PD-L1Epstein-Barr virus-associated gastric cancerTumour-infiltrating lymphocyte patternPD-L1 expressionPD-L1 immunohistochemistryPrimary tumor resectionDisease-free survivalAssociated with higher expressionCases of EBVaGCGastric cancer patientsEBV-negative samplesSamsung Medical CentreAsian Cancer Research GroupImmune genesCancer Research Group
2017
Combining DNA damaging therapeutics with immunotherapy: more haste, less speed
Brown J, Sundar R, Lopez J. Combining DNA damaging therapeutics with immunotherapy: more haste, less speed. British Journal Of Cancer 2017, 118: 312-324. PMID: 29123260, PMCID: PMC5808021, DOI: 10.1038/bjc.2017.376.Peer-Reviewed Educational MaterialsConceptsImmunogenic cell deathDNA-damaging therapeuticsPromote immunogenic cell deathPhase I-III trialsDurable response rateDNA-damaging agentsAntitumour immune responseRegimens to patientsProperties of malignant cellsChoice of combinationsCell deathAntitumour immunitySequence of agentsNeoantigen productionTumor microenvironmentMalignant cellsNeoantigen repertoireInflammatory milieuPreclinical workImmune cellsCombination trialsDamaging agentsImmunological memoryMinimal toxicityHypothesis-driven trial
2016
Emerging biomarkers for PD-1 pathway cancer therapy
Lim J, Sundar R, Chnard-Poirier M, Lopez J, Yap T. Emerging biomarkers for PD-1 pathway cancer therapy. Biomarkers In Medicine 2016, 11: 53-67. PMID: 27936870, DOI: 10.2217/bmm-2016-0228.Peer-Reviewed Educational MaterialsConceptsPD-L1Predictive biomarkers of responseImmune checkpoint inhibitorsImmune-related toxicitiesPD-L1 expressionPD-L1 inhibitorsBiomarkers of responseTreatment response biomarkersMultiple tumor typesIntermediate end pointsCheckpoint inhibitorsPD-1Predictive biomarkersImmuno-oncologyResponse assessmentTumor typesResponse biomarkersCancer therapyEnd pointsTherapy designBiomarkersFDA registrationTreatmentInhibitorsDifferential responding