A combination chemotherapy of 5-fluorouracil and cisplatin against advanced gastric cancer.
OBJECTIVE
This study was designed to clarify the effects of treatment and toxicity between 5-fluorouracil (5-FU) plus bolus infusion of Cisplatin (CDDP) and 5-FU plus continuous infusion of low-dose CDDP in advanced gastric cancer.


METHODS
Seventy-three patients with advanced gastric cancer were enrolled in this study to compare the antitumor effect and toxicity between the bolus infusion of CDDP and the continuous infusion of low-dose CDDP in combination with the continuous infusion of 5-FU. Sixty-five eligible patients were divided into two groups: group A: curative resection cases; and, group B: non-curative, recurrent or inoperable cases. Patients were classified into two arms in each group. One arm of treatment regimen is 5-FU and bolus infusion of CDDP (A-1, B-1) and the other arm is 5-FU and continuous infusion of low-dose CDDP (A-2, B-2).


RESULTS
Response rates were 9.1% and 38.5% in arm B-1 and arm B-2, respectively, although the difference between the two was not at a significant level. Frequently observed toxicities during the treatment were gastrointestinal symptoms such as nausea, vomiting, and anorexia. The incidence of side effects in arm A-2 and arm B-2 was almost the same as that in arm A-1 and arm B-1.


CONCLUSIONS
These results revealed that there was no advantage of low-dose continuous infusion of CDDP with 5-FU in terms of response rate and clinical toxicity in our present study.
Imada
T
T
First Department of Surgery, Yokohama City University, School of Medicine, Japan.
Sairenji
M
M
Suda
T
T
Yamamoto
Y
Y
Amano
T
T
Motohashi
H
H
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000971:Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002945:Cisplatin / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D004334:Drug Administration Schedule; D005260:Female; D005472:Fluorouracil / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D006801:Humans; D007262:Infusions, Intravenous; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D013274:Stomach Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000401:mortality / Q000473:pathology; D015996:Survival Rate; D016896:Treatment Outcome
D002945:Cisplatin; D005472:Fluorouracil