title: Single-agent irinotecan as second-line treatment for advanced gastric cancer.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To investigate the activity and toxicity of irinotecan (CPT-11) as a single agent in patients with advanced gastric cancer after failure of previous 5-fluorouracil-based combination chemotherapy.
  
  
  METHODS
  Sixteen patients with advanced gastric received CPT-11, 350 mg/m2 every 21 days. The median age of the patients was 54.6 years; ECOG performance status was 0-1 in 14 patients and 2 in 2 patients. Dominant metastatic sites included liver, lung, lymph nodes and peritoneum.
  
  
  RESULTS
  No complete response was observed. Two patients (12.5%) achieved a partial response to treatment. One patient (6.25%) had a minor response. Ten patients (62.5%) had progressive disease on therapy, and 3 patients (18.75%) had stable disease. The median survival of all 16 patients was 5 months. Grade 3 neutropenia was observed in 3 patients (18.75%), grade 4 thrombocytopenia in 1 patient (6.25%), and grade 3 anemia in 1 patient (6.25%). Three patients (18.75%) suffered from grade 3 diarrhea.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  CPT-11 is moderately active and a well-tolerated regimen for selected advanced gastric cancer patients who experience disease progression after receiving first-line treatment.
authors: Department of Medical Oncology, Uludag University, Faculty of Medicine, Gorukle, Bursa, Turkey. ozkanat@uludag.edu.tr
authors: Ozkan
authors: O
authors: Kanat
authors: Turkkan
authors: T
authors: Evrensel
authors: Osman
authors: O
authors: Manavoglu
authors: Mutlu
authors: M
authors: Demiray
authors: Ender
authors: E
authors: Kurt
authors: Guzin
authors: G
authors: Gonullu
authors: Murat
authors: M
authors: Kiyici
authors: Murat
authors: M
authors: Arslan
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000972:Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002166:Camptothecin / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D018450:Disease Progression; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D000077146:Irinotecan; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D013274:Stomach Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy*; D016019:Survival Analysis; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D000972:Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic; D000077146:Irinotecan; D002166:Camptothecin