title: Epirubicin, cisplatin, and protracted venous infusion of 5-fluorouracil for advanced gastric carcinoma.
abstract: To evaluate the activity and safety of a combination chemotherapy with epirubicin, cisplatin, and a protracted venous infusion of 5-fluorouracil (ECF) in unresectable or metastatic gastric cancer, a phase II study was performed. Thirty-five chemotherapy-naive patients were given ECF. Epirubicin (50 mg/m(2) intravenous, i.v.) and cisplatin (60 mg/m(2) i.v.) were administered every three weeks during a continuous intravenous infusion of 5-fluorouracil (250 mg/m(2) /day) using infusion pump. One complete response and 19 partial responses (response rate=62%) were achieved. Eight patients remained stable, whereas in four patients the disease progressed. The median duration of response was 22 weeks (95% confidence interval, 18-27 weeks). The median survival for all patients was 10 months (95% confidence interval, 6-14 months), with a 1-yr survival rate of 40%. A total of 184 cycles of chemotherapy were administered. Grade 3 or 4 emesis occurred in 3%, mucositis in 2%, anemia in 10%, and leukopenia in 3% of the cycles. Central venous catheter complications that required line removal occurred in 37% (n=13) of the patients. No patient died of toxicity. Overall, the ECF regimen showed high anti-tumor activity with a tolerable toxicity pattern.
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine, Gachon Medical School, Gil Medical Center, Inchon, Korea. ekcho@ghil.com
authors.forename: Eun Kyung
authors.initials: EK
authors.lastname: Cho
authors.forename: Woon Ki
authors.initials: WK
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: Do Yoon
authors.initials: DY
authors.lastname: Lim
authors.forename: Soo-Mee
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: Bang
authors.forename: Dong Kyun
authors.initials: DK
authors.lastname: Park
authors.forename: Yeon-Ho
authors.initials: YH
authors.lastname: Park
authors.forename: Oh Sang
authors.initials: OS
authors.lastname: Kwon
authors.forename: Duck Joo
authors.initials: DJ
authors.lastname: Choi
authors.forename: Dong Bok
authors.initials: DB
authors.lastname: Shin
authors.forename: Jae Hoon
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: Tae Hoon
authors.initials: TH
authors.lastname: Lee
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000971:Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000009:adverse effects; D002945:Cisplatin / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000009:adverse effects; D015251:Epirubicin / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000009:adverse effects; D005260:Female; D005472:Fluorouracil / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000009:adverse effects; D006801:Humans; D007260:Infusion Pumps; D007262:Infusions, Intravenous; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D013274:Stomach Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000401:mortality / Q000556:secondary; D016019:Survival Analysis
chemical_list: D015251:Epirubicin; D002945:Cisplatin; D005472:Fluorouracil