title: Available options in chemotherapy for advanced gastric cancer: the current developments in Japan.
abstract: Although techniques for early diagnosis and treatment of gastric cancer have been established, standard treatment for advanced gastric cancer has not. 5-Flourouracil (5-FU) plus cisplatin containing regimens, including 5-FU plus cisplatin, epirubicin plus cisplatin and 5-FU, and docetaxel plus cisplatin and 5-FU, are considered to be the most effective regimens for advanced gastric cancer in US, Europe and Korea. In Japan, oral fluoropyrimidine S-1 is currently considered to be the first-line treatment for advanced gastric cancer. S-1-based combination therapies with other promising drugs, including cis-platin, irinotecan and taxanes, are expected to yield good results. Above all, S-1 plus cisplatin therapy showed high efficacy and expected to be a standard therapy for advanced gastric cancer. Further evaluation by well-controlled clinical trials is still required.
authors.affiliation: Kitasato University School of Medicine, 2-1-1 Asamizodai, Sagamihara city, Kanagawa 228-8520, Japan. koizumi@med.kitasato-u.ac.jp
authors.forename: Wasaburo
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Koizumi
mesh_terms: D000971:Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D017326:Clinical Trials, Phase III as Topic / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D004317:Doxorubicin / Q000008:administration & dosage; D005472:Fluorouracil / Q000008:administration & dosage; D007564:Japan; D008727:Methotrexate / Q000008:administration & dosage; D013274:Stomach Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000453:epidemiology*
chemical_list: D004317:Doxorubicin; D005472:Fluorouracil; D008727:Methotrexate