title: Paclitaxel and carboplatin in pretreated advanced gastric cancer: a phase II study.
abstract: In the present study, the combination of paclitaxel and carboplatin was applied in the treatment of gastric carcinoma. This cytotoxic combination has been an effective regimen with acceptable toxicity in ovarian, lung and head and neck cancers. We evaluated 47 patients (37 male, 10 female), all with advanced disease and all having undergone prior chemotherapy treatment. All patients had disease progression or no response to the prior treatment. Forty-four patients had undergone a previous gastrectomy for gastric adenocarcinoma and 3 patients were inoperable at diagnosis. Paclitaxel 175 mg/m2 was administered as a three-hour infusion, followed by carboplatin 5 AUC infused for 90 min. Thirteen (27.66%) patients showed partial response with a median survival of 10 months; 3 (6.38%) patients showed minor response and 13 patients, stable disease with clinical benefit. The median survival of patients with minor response and disease stability was 6 months. Eighteen (38.29%) patients had disease progression with a median survival of 3 months. It appears that in advanced cancer patients, the paclitaxel-carboplatin combination is an effective second-line treatment, resulting in partial response and disease stability in 61% of patients as well as in a prolongation of median survival.
authors.affiliation: Hippokration Hospital, Oncology Unit, Second Medical Division, University of Athens, 115 27 Athens, Greece.
authors.forename: G P
authors.initials: GP
authors.lastname: Stathopoulos
authors.forename: S K
authors.initials: SK
authors.lastname: Rigatos
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Fountzilas
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Polyzos
authors.forename: J G
authors.initials: JG
authors.lastname: Stathopoulos
mesh_terms: D000230:Adenocarcinoma / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000401:mortality; D000368:Aged; D000971:Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D016190:Carboplatin / Q000008:administration & dosage; D018450:Disease Progression; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009503:Neutropenia / Q000139:chemically induced; D017239:Paclitaxel / Q000008:administration & dosage; D013274:Stomach Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000401:mortality; D015996:Survival Rate
chemical_list: D016190:Carboplatin; D017239:Paclitaxel