Neoadjuvant chemotherapy in advanced gastric cancer--results of a pilot study.
BACKGROUND
Adenocarcinoma of the stomach is usually advanced at presentation, and local or distant spread may preclude the option of primary curative resection. Neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NAC) has shown promise in downstaging initially unresectable disease. This pilot study was planned to assess the utility of NAC using Cisplatin and 5-Fluoro uracil in the management of initially unresectable gastric cancer.


METHODS
Ten patients with unresectable gastric adnocarcinoma were included. They received two cycles of cisplatin, 30 mg/m2 intravenously in combination with 5-Fluoro Uracil, 1000 mg/m2. They were restaged using Endoscopy and CT scan and taken up for exploratory laparotomy.


RESULTS
Eight of 10 patients (80%) had an objective response to chemotherapy. Six patients (60%) with initially unresectable disease could be offered curative surgery. The median survival was 10 months (range 1-60 months). There were two long term survivors (48 and 60 months respectively).


CONCLUSIONS
Neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NAC) is an effective option in downstaging initially unresectable gastric carcinoma. Complete response to chemotherapy also predicts long term survival.
Shukla
N K
NK
Institute Rotary Cancer Hospital (IRCH), All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS), New Delhi-110 029, India. nkshukla2@yahoo.com
Deo
S V S
SV
Asthana
S
S
Raina
V
V
Dronamaraju
S S
SS
D000230:Adenocarcinoma / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000601:surgery; D000328:Adult; D000971:Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002945:Cisplatin / Q000008:administration & dosage; D005260:Female; D005472:Fluorouracil / Q000008:administration & dosage; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D020360:Neoadjuvant Therapy; D010865:Pilot Projects; D013274:Stomach Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000601:surgery
D002945:Cisplatin; D005472:Fluorouracil