The UFT/leucovorin/etoposide regimen for the treatment of advanced gastric cancer. Oncopaz Cooperative Group.
Gastric cancer is the most chemosensitive adenocarcinoma among digestive neoplasms. A few years ago, we performed a phase II trial with the FLEP regimen, in which fluorouracil (5-FU) and leucovorin are combined with etoposide and cisplatin (Platinol). This regimen resulted in a 39% response rate and high toxicity. Then we used the combination UFT (tegafur and uracil)/leucovorin/etoposide: UFT 390 mg/m2/day orally on days 1 to 14; leucovorin 500 mg/m2 i.v. day 1, and 15 mg/12 h orally on days 2 to 14; and etoposide 100 mg/m2 i.v. on day 1 and then 200 mg/m2/day orally on days 2 and 3. Forty-six patients received a median of five courses. Five patients (11%) achieved a complete response and 12 (26%) a partial response, for an overall response rate of 37%. The response rate was 50% in patients with an Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group performance status of 0 to 1. Grades 3 to 4 toxicities appeared as follow: 17% of patients had diarrhea, 11% had nausea/vomiting, and 13% of patients had anemia. One patient died of neutropenia and sepsis. The median survival time was 9 months. In summary, UFT/leucovorin/etoposide is effective and moderately toxic in patients with advanced gastric cancer. A new trial with UFT/leucovorin/epirubicin is ongoing.
González Barón
M
M
Hospital La Paz, Madrid, Spain.
Espinosa
E
E
Feliu
J
J
Ordóñez
A
A
Zamora
P
P
de Castro
J
J
García Girón
C
C
García Alfonso
P
P
Garrido
P
P
Belón
J
J
Lomas
M
M
D000740:Anemia / Q000139:chemically induced; D000931:Antidotes / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D000971:Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D003967:Diarrhea / Q000139:chemically induced; D004338:Drug Combinations; D005047:Etoposide / Q000008:administration & dosage; D005260:Female; D005544:Forecasting; D006801:Humans; D002955:Leucovorin / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D008297:Male; D009325:Nausea / Q000139:chemically induced; D013274:Stomach Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy*; D015996:Survival Rate; D005641:Tegafur / Q000008:administration & dosage; D014498:Uracil / Q000008:administration & dosage
D000931:Antidotes; D004338:Drug Combinations; C096910:UFT(R) drug; D005641:Tegafur; D014498:Uracil; D005047:Etoposide; D002955:Leucovorin