title: Phase II study of paclitaxel in pretreated advanced gastric cancer.
abstract: Patients with advanced gastric cancer unresponsive or progressing after PELF chemotherapy (5-fluorouracil, leucovorin, cisplatin and epidoxorubicin) received paclitaxel at the dose of 225 mg/m2 every 3 weeks, over 3 h infusion. Thirty-six patients entered the study, and all of them were evaluable for response and toxicity. Toxicity was mild: apart from alopecia, grade 3 toxicities were leukopenia and thrombocytopenia in six patients, and grade 2 neurotoxicity in seven patients. Eight patients (22.2%, 95% CI: 9-35%) achieved an objective response, with a median duration of 5 months. Median survival time for all patients was 8 months. In 16 of 36 patients (44%), treatment determined a significant relief of symptoms. Out-patient paclitaxel given over 3 h may be effective as salvage treatment in patients with advanced gastric cancer refractory to first line chemotherapy.
authors.affiliation: Unità Operativa di Oncologia Medica, Azienda Ospedaliera S Salvatore, Pesaro, Italy.
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Cascinu
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Graziano
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Cardarelli
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Marcellini
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Giordani
authors.forename: E T
authors.initials: ET
authors.lastname: Menichetti
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Catalano
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000972:Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000971:Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / Q000627:therapeutic use; D002945:Cisplatin / Q000008:administration & dosage; D015251:Epirubicin / Q000008:administration & dosage; D005260:Female; D005472:Fluorouracil / Q000008:administration & dosage; D006801:Humans; D002955:Leucovorin / Q000008:administration & dosage; D007970:Leukopenia / Q000139:chemically induced; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009362:Neoplasm Metastasis; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D017239:Paclitaxel / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D013274:Stomach Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000401:mortality / Q000473:pathology; D016019:Survival Analysis; D013921:Thrombocytopenia / Q000139:chemically induced; D013997:Time Factors
chemical_list: D000972:Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic; D015251:Epirubicin; D017239:Paclitaxel; D002945:Cisplatin; D002955:Leucovorin; D005472:Fluorouracil