To investigate the effects of the combination of two chemotherapies followed by immunostimulants on the interferon gamma expression and infiltration of cytotoxic T cells in the tumour microenvironment in patients with previously untreated metastatic or locally advanced esophagogastric cancer.

This is a multi-center, open label, proof-of-principle study for patients with previously untreated metastatic or locally advanced esophagogastric cancer. Patients are sequentially treated with standard of care capecitabine and oxaliplatin, and retifanlimab. Patients are treated with 2 cycles of CapOx (1 cycle is 3 weeks) and sequentially with 4-weekly cycles of retifanlimab up to 2 years. The investigators will include 25 patients in this study.

Biopsies, blood and faeces will be collected during treatment for assessment of infiltrating immune cells and IFNy expression, as well as for other translational research purposes. CT scans are made for evaluation of tumor response before and after chemotherapy, and after 2-3 cycles of immunotherapy.

Inclusion Criteria:

• Patients must provide written informed consent according to ICH/GCP, and national/local regulations prior to any screening procedures.

• Male or female adult patients (≥ 18 years).

• Patients with histologically confirmed diagnosis of metastatic or irresectable HER2 negative adenocarcinoma of the stomach or gastroesophageal junction (Siewert II and III); patients with HER2 positive disease are eligible when treatment with trastuzumab is contraindicated. If histology cannot be obtained, cytology is acceptable to prove metastatic disease.

• Patients with metastatic or irresectable adenocarcinoma of the stomach or oesophagus not pre-treated with chemotherapy or radiotherapy for irresectable or metastatic disease. Palliative radiotherapy on the primary tumor or a metastatic lesion is allowed if other untreated lesions eligible for evaluation are present.

• Measurable disease as assessed by RECIST 1.1

• dMMR identified by IHC of mismatch repair proteins MLH1, PMS2, MSH2 en MSH6

• Primary tumor or metastasis accessible for repeat fresh histological biopsies

• ECOG (WHO) performance status 0-2

• Patient has adequate bone marrow and organ function as defined by the following laboratory values:

  • Absolute Neutrophil Count (ANC) > 1.5 x 109 /L
  • Hemoglobin (Hgb) > 5.6 mmol/L
  • Platelets > 100 x 109 /L

• Serum total bilirubin within ≤ 1.5 x ULN (upper limit of normal); or total bilirubin < 3.0 x ULN with direct bilirubin within normal range in patients with well documented Gilbert's syndrome; biliary drainage is allowed for biliary obstruction

• Serum creatinine < 1.5 x ULN or creatinine clearance >30 mL/min/1.73 m2

• Alanine aminotransferase (AST) and aspartate aminotransferase (ALT) < 2.5x ULN within normal range or < 5.0 x ULN if liver metastases are present

• If a female patient is of child-bearing potential, as evidenced by regular menstrual periods, she must have a negative pregnancy test (urine or serum; beta-human chorionic gonadotropin (β-hCG)) documented prior to the first administration of study drug. If sexually active, the patient must agree to use contraception considered adequate and appropriate by the Investigator during the period of administration of study drug and after the end of treatment as recommended.

• Absence of any psychological, familial, sociological or geographical condition potentially hampering compliance with the study protocol and follow-up schedule; those conditions should be discussed with the patient before registration in the trial.

Exclusion Criteria:

• Severe renal impairment (CLcr ≤ 30 ml/min)
• Any clinically significant disorder impacting the risk-benefit balance negatively per physician's judgment.
• Any prior anti-cancer chemotherapy, biologic or investigational therapy for metastatic or irresectable stomach or oesophageal cancer
• Disease progression within six months after completion of (neo)adjuvant chemotherapy containing a fluoropyrimidine and/or platinum compound. (Disease progression within 6 months after completion of neoadjuvant chemoradiation carboplatin AUC 2 and paclitaxel 50 mg/m2 is allowed.)
• All target lesions in a radiation field without documented disease progression.
• Patient has known brain metastases, unless previously treated and well-controlled for at least 3 months (defined as clinically stable, no edema, no steroids and stable in 2 scans at least 4 weeks apart).
• Past or current malignancy other than entry diagnosis interfering with prognosis of metastatic gastroesophageal cancer.
• Known uncontrollable hypersensitivity or contraindications to any of the components of retifanlimab, fluoropyrimidines, leucovorin, oxaliplatin. Patients with previous dose reductions or delays are eligible.
• Complete dihydropyrimidine dehydrogenase deficiency.
• Patient has active, uncontrolled bacterial, viral or fungal infection(s) requiring systemic therapy.
• Patient has known past or active infection with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), hepatitis B or hepatitis C.
• Signs of interstitial lung disease (ILD)
• Participants with an active, known or suspected autoimmune disease. Participants with type I diabetes mellitus, hypothyroidism only requiring hormone replacement, skin disorders (such as vitiligo, psoriasis, or alopecia) not requiring systemic treatment, or conditions not expected to recur in the absence of an external trigger are permitted to enroll.
• Patient has any other concurrent severe and/or uncontrolled medical condition that would, in the investigator's judgment contraindicate patient participation in the clinical study.
• Use of other investigational drugs within 30 days of enrollment.
• Patient is enrolled in any other clinical protocol or investigational trial that will interfere with the primary endpoint of the current study.
• Patients who in the investigators' opinion may be unwilling, unable or unlikely to comply with requirements of the study protocol.
• Breast feeding, known pregnancy, positive serum pregnancy test or unwillingness to use a reliable method of birth control, during therapy and for 3 months following the last dose of study treatment.
• Treatment within 4 weeks with DPD inhibitors, including sorivudine or its chemically related analogues such as brivudine.
• Pre-existing motor or sensory neurotoxicity greater than CTCAE grade 1.
• History of organ transplant, including allogeneic stem cell transplantation.
• Receiving probiotics as of the first dose of study treatment.