title: Treatment of advanced gastric cancer with a modified regimen of etoposide/leucovorin/5-fluorouracil.
abstract: The efficacy and toxicity of a combination of etoposide 100 mg/m2/day iv on day 2-4, leucovorin 300 mg/m2/day iv, and 5-FU 500 mg/m2 day iv on day 1-5 every 4 weeks were assessed in 21 patients with advanced gastric cancer with measurable or evaluable diseases. Eight patients had an objective response, including 3 in CR. The overall response rate was 38.1% (95% CI 33.4-42.8%). Five of 8 patients who exhibited locally advanced and unresectable diseases had an objective response (2 CR, 3 PR). The response rate in patients with metastatic disease was 23.0% (95% CI 14.4-31.6%). The median progression-free interval and overall survival time were 7 and 10 months, respectively. The most frequent side effect was alopecia (Gr I/II 71.4%). No treatment-related death occurred. Modified ELF is a relatively effective and tolerable combination regimen for advanced gastric cancer and can be safely administered to elderly patients and patients with systemic diseases.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, Veterans General Hospital-Taipei, National Yang-Ming Medical College, Taiwan, Republic of China.
authors.forename: T J
authors.initials: TJ
authors.lastname: Chiou
authors.forename: S P
authors.initials: SP
authors.lastname: Kung
authors.forename: R K
authors.initials: RK
authors.lastname: Hsieh
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Fan
authors.forename: C H
authors.initials: CH
authors.lastname: Tzeng
authors.forename: C H
authors.initials: CH
authors.lastname: Wei
authors.forename: P M
authors.initials: PM
authors.lastname: Chen
mesh_terms: D000230:Adenocarcinoma / Q000188:drug therapy*; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000971:Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D005047:Etoposide / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D005260:Female; D005472:Fluorouracil / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D006801:Humans; D002955:Leucovorin / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D013274:Stomach Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy*
chemical_list: D005047:Etoposide; D002955:Leucovorin; D005472:Fluorouracil