Predictive Role of Circulating Angiogenic Factors for Second-line Paclitaxel and Ramucirumab.

The project is primarily aimed at identifying and subsequently validating the predictive role of plasma concentrations of VEGF-A (vascular endothelial growth factor A), VEGF-D (vascular endothelial growth factor D) and s-VEGFR2 (soluble Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor Receptor 2) measured prior to initiation and during second-line treatment with paclitaxel and ramucirumab in patients with unresectable gastric cancer pretreated with first-line chemotherapy. For the primary endpoint, the efficacy parameter chosen is PFS, calculated from day 1 of treatment to date of progression or death.