Use of 5-fluorouracil, epirubicin and mitomycin C (FEM) as adjuvant therapy in node-positive, radically-resected gastric cancer patients: survey of a general hospital experience.
Between 1/1986 and 6/1996, 37 consecutive patients affected by node-positive gastric cancer (GC) were treated with radical surgery and received 5-fluorouracil, epirubicin and mitomycin C (FEM) as adjuvant treatment. Only 57% of the patients received all six cycles and the reasons for treatment withdrawal were mainly related to concomitant pathologies and prolonged leukopenia. After a median follow-up of 39 months, the 3-year disease-free survival, disease-related survival and overall survival were 75.8%, 83.7% and 78.6% respectively. A statistically significant difference in survival was found in the subgroup of patients receiving more than three courses of treatment.
Department of Medical Oncology, S. Chiara Hospital, Largo Medaglie D'Oro, 38100 Trento, Italy.
O
O
Caffo
G
G
Ambrosini
M
M
Amichetti
S
S
Brugnara
C
C
Graiff
S F
SF
Robbiati
E
E
Galligioni
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000971:Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D017024:Chemotherapy, Adjuvant; D018572:Disease-Free Survival; D015251:Epirubicin / Q000008:administration & dosage; D005260:Female; D005472:Fluorouracil / Q000008:administration & dosage; D005743:Gastrectomy; D006769:Hospitals, General; D006801:Humans; D007558:Italy; D007970:Leukopenia / Q000139:chemically induced; D008207:Lymphatic Metastasis; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D016685:Mitomycin / Q000008:administration & dosage; D013274:Stomach Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000401:mortality / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery*; D015996:Survival Rate; D013997:Time Factors
D015251:Epirubicin; D016685:Mitomycin; D005472:Fluorouracil