Chemotherapy for Advanced Gastric Cancer: Focus on New Agents and Combinations.
BACKGROUND: Although many treatments for advanced gastric cancer have been developed, systemic therapy remains elusive. METHODS: The author reviewed data on recent phase II and III trials of the main new agents and combinations. RESULTS: Chemotherapy appears to improve survival of patients with advanced disease, albeit slightly. New drugs that might improve response rates and survival include the taxanes. CONCLUSIONS: New combinations, including the taxanes, must be designed and evaluated to further improve the outcome for patients with advanced gastric cancer.
Murad
AM
Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, Brazil.