title: A phase II trial of paclitaxel and weekly 24 h infusion of 5-fluorouracil/folinic acid in patients with advanced gastric cancer.
abstract: A phase II trial was performed to evaluate the efficacy and toxicity of the combination of paclitaxel and 5-fluorouracil (5-FU)/folinic acid in patients with advanced gastric carcinoma. Twenty-two patients (six female and 16 male) with advanced or metastatic disease were enrolled. None of them had received prior chemotherapy. Paclitaxel was administrated as a 3 h infusion of 175 mg/m2 at days 1 and 22, 5-FU 2000 mg/m2 i.v. over 24 h and folinic acid 500 mg/m2 i.v. 2 h prior to 5-FU weekly from days 1 to 36. Seven patients (32%) had partial remissions including the lungs, skin, lymph nodes and locally advanced primary tumor. The median overall survival was 11 months (range 1-17+) and the median progression-free interval was 8 months (range 1-13+). Neutropenia (WHO grade III/IV) occurred in 14% of patients. Other main toxicities were alopecia in 45%, fever/infection in 9%, and nausea/vomiting and diarrhea in 5%. In conclusion, the combination of paclitaxel and continuously infused 5-FU/folinic acid appears to be an active regimen for advanced gastric carcinoma with a remission rate comparable to ELF or FAMtx. The moderate toxicity allows treatment on an outpatient basis.
authors.affiliation: Department of Hematology/Oncology/Immunology, Eberhard-Karls-University Medical Center II, Tübingen, Germany.
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Bokemeyer
authors.forename: C S
authors.initials: CS
authors.lastname: Lampe
authors.forename: M R
authors.initials: MR
authors.lastname: Clemens
authors.forename: J T
authors.initials: JT
authors.lastname: Hartmann
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Quietzsch
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Forkmann
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Kollmannsberger
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Kanz
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000971:Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D004334:Drug Administration Schedule; D005240:Feasibility Studies; D005260:Female; D005472:Fluorouracil / Q000008:administration & dosage; D006801:Humans; D007262:Infusions, Intravenous; D002955:Leucovorin / Q000008:administration & dosage; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010045:Outpatients; D017239:Paclitaxel / Q000008:administration & dosage; D013274:Stomach Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy*
chemical_list: D017239:Paclitaxel; D002955:Leucovorin; D005472:Fluorouracil