title: Sequential and combination chemotherapy of advanced gastric cancer.
abstract: One hundred and forty-six previously untreated patients with advanced gastric cancer were assigned at random to therapy with the following regimens: 1) Methyl CCNU alone; 2) Methyl CCNU with cyclophosphamide induction; 3) 5-fluorouracil (5-FU) + methyl CCNU; and 4) 5-FU + methyl CCNU with cyclophosphamide induction. Cyclophosphamide induction produced an objective response rate of only 8%. In addition, it added to hematologic toxicity and detracted from the therapeutic activity of subsequent treatment. Methyl CCNU was relatively ineffective therapy with an overall objective response rate of 8%. The response rate to 5-FU + methyl CCNU without cyclophosphamide induction was 40% and this was significantly superior to all other regimens. The survival time of all patients treated with 5-FU + methyl CCNU was significantly superior to that of all patients treated with methyl CCNU alone.
mesh_terms: D000230:Adenocarcinoma / Q000188:drug therapy*; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D002986:Clinical Trials as Topic; D003520:Cyclophosphamide / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D004334:Drug Administration Schedule; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination; D005260:Female; D005472:Fluorouracil / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009607:Nitrosourea Compounds / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D012673:Semustine / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D013274:Stomach Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy*; D013997:Time Factors
chemical_list: D009607:Nitrosourea Compounds; D012673:Semustine; D003520:Cyclophosphamide; D005472:Fluorouracil