title: Open phase II with 5-fluorouracil, 4-epi-doxorubicin and mitomycin C (FEM) in advanced gastric cancer.
abstract: Forty-four patients with advanced gastric cancer were treated with a combination including 5-fluorouracil, 4-epi-doxorubicin and mitomycin C. 4-Epi-doxorubicin was substituted for adriamycin in MacDonald's original schedule. The combined treatment involved 600 mg/m2 i.v. of 5-fluorouracil on days 1, 8, 29 and 36; 80 mg/m2 i.v. of 4-epi-doxorubicin on days 1 and 29; and 10 g/m2 i.v. of mitomycin C on day 1. The cycle was repeated on day 57 after the start of treatment. Out of 44 patients, 39 were evaluable. Thirteen partial remissions (33%) were achieved. The average duration of remission was 7 months (range, 3-12 months). The average survival of the responders was 9 months, and that of nonresponders 3.5 months. Toxicity was moderate, well-tolerated and, as compared with the FAM schedule, less pronounced, particularly as regards myelotoxicity. Thus, the substitution of 4-epi-doxorubicin for adriamycin in the original schedule of MacDonald et al. (1980) did not improve treatment results, but the observed toxicity was less pronounced.
authors.affiliation: Central Institute for Tumors and Allied Diseases, Zagreb, Yugoslavia.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Roth
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Zupanc
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Luetić
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Kolarić
mesh_terms: D000230:Adenocarcinoma / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000401:mortality; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000971:Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D004317:Doxorubicin / Q000627:therapeutic use; D004341:Drug Evaluation; D015251:Epirubicin / Q000008:administration & dosage; D005260:Female; D005472:Fluorouracil / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D016685:Mitomycin; D008937:Mitomycins / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use; D013274:Stomach Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000401:mortality; D015996:Survival Rate
chemical_list: D008937:Mitomycins; D015251:Epirubicin; D016685:Mitomycin; D004317:Doxorubicin; D005472:Fluorouracil