title: A phase II study of epirubicin, cisplatin and uracil-tegafur for advanced gastric carcinoma.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Due to its greater convenience, a combination of uracil and tegafur (referred to as UFT) taken orally is an attractive alternative to continuous intravenous (i.v.) 5-fluorouracil (5-FU) infusion. This phase II study assessed the response rate and toxicity profile of the combination of epirubicin, cisplatin and UFT in patients with metastatic adenocarcinoma of the stomach.
  
  
  METHODS
  Epirubicin (50 mg/m(2)) and cisplatin (60 mg/m(2)) were administered i.v. to 35 patients with metastatic gastric carcinoma on day 1, and subsequently UFT (300 mg/m(2)/day) was administered orally in divided doses for 21 days. The treatment was repeated every 3 weeks. The response rate, time to disease progression, survival and toxic effects were analyzed.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Thirty-two of the 35 enrolled patients were assessed subsequently for response. The median number of cycles was four. Thirteen patients (40.6%) showed partial responses, while none showed a complete response. The median time to progression of carcinoma was 20.4 weeks, and the median survival was 37 weeks. Grade 3 and 4 neutropenia was observed in 25% of patients. Grade 3 nausea and vomiting was observed in 28% of patients. No treatment-related death was observed. All patients received doses as planned, except for one who required a 75% dose reduction due to nephrotoxicity. Six of 132 cycles were delayed >7 days after four cycles.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The combination of epirubicin, cisplatin and UFT showed anticancer activity against metastatic gastric adenocarcinoma, had a tolerable toxicity profile and showed excellent patient compliance.
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine, The Catholic University, Seocho-gu, Seoul 137-040, Korea. insookwoo@catholic.ac.kr
authors.forename: In Sook
authors.initials: IS
authors.lastname: Woo
authors.forename: Do Ho
authors.initials: DH
authors.lastname: Moon
authors.forename: Byoung Young
authors.initials: BY
authors.lastname: Shim
authors.forename: Myung Ah
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: Jae Ho
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Byun
authors.forename: Kee Won
authors.initials: KW
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Jin-Hyoung
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Kang
authors.forename: Myung Gyu
authors.initials: MG
authors.lastname: Choi
authors.forename: In-Sik
authors.initials: IS
authors.lastname: Chung
authors.forename: Young Seon
authors.initials: YS
authors.lastname: Hong
authors.forename: Suk-Young
authors.initials: SY
authors.lastname: Park
authors.forename: Kyung Shik
authors.initials: KS
authors.lastname: Lee
mesh_terms: D000230:Adenocarcinoma / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000401:mortality / Q000556:secondary; D000284:Administration, Oral; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000740:Anemia / Q000139:chemically induced; D000971:Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002945:Cisplatin / Q000008:administration & dosage; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D004338:Drug Combinations; D015251:Epirubicin / Q000008:administration & dosage; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007970:Leukopenia / Q000139:chemically induced; D008198:Lymph Nodes / Q000473:pathology; D008207:Lymphatic Metastasis; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009325:Nausea / Q000139:chemically induced; D013274:Stomach Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000401:mortality / Q000473:pathology; D015996:Survival Rate; D005641:Tegafur / Q000008:administration & dosage; D014498:Uracil / Q000008:administration & dosage
chemical_list: D004338:Drug Combinations; C096910:UFT(R) drug; D005641:Tegafur; D015251:Epirubicin; D014498:Uracil; D002945:Cisplatin