June 30 (Reuters) - Amgen ( AMGN ) said on Monday its

experimental cancer therapy significantly improved overall

survival in patients with advanced gastric cancer when combined

with chemotherapy, marking a potential breakthrough for one of

the deadliest cancers.

Patients receiving the therapy, bemarituzumab, along with

chemotherapy in the late-stage trial lived longer than those who

received chemotherapy alone, the company said.

The drug targets a protein called FGFR2b, which is

overexpressed in about 16% of patients with advanced gastric

cancer, Amgen ( AMGN ) added.