title: Weekly docetaxel in combination with capecitabine in patients with metastatic gastric cancer.
abstract: Docetaxel (T) and capecitabine (X) are active agents against gastric cancer with synergistic antitumor effects. We conducted the current phase II study to assess the response rate and toxicity of combination TX regimen in patients with metastatic gastric cancer. Eligible patients were treated with docetaxel (36 mg/m2 intravenously) on days 1 and 8 and capecitabine (1000 mg/m2 orally twice a day) on days 1-14 of a 3-week schedule until progression occurred. From December 2001 to May 2003, 55 patients with median age of 54 years (range, 22-73 years) were enrolled; 47 patients had measurable lesions. A total of 358 courses of treatment were given, with a median of 5 (range, 1-22+) per patient. Objective responses were documented in 19 of 47 patients with measurable lesions (response rate, 40.4%; 95% confidence interval [CI], 25.9-54.9), with the median response duration of 5.6 months (range, 2.1-13.6+). At a median follow up of 15.9 months for all of 55 study patients, the median time to progression and survival were 4.5 months (95% CI, 3.4-5.6) and 12.0 months (95% CI, 7.5-16.6), respectively. Hematologic toxicities were mild to moderate, and the observed grade 3 nonhematologic toxicities, the most frequent of which was stomatitis, were generally manageable. Four patients experienced pneumonitis, but all of them responded to steroid treatment. The TX regimen was relatively well tolerated and effective against metastatic gastric cancer, with the added advantage of being an outpatient regimen.
authors.affiliation: Research Institute and Hospital, National Cancer Center, Goyang, Gyeonggi, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Jong Ho
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Chun
authors.forename: Hark Kyun
authors.initials: HK
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Jong Seok
authors.initials: JS
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: Jin Yi
authors.initials: JY
authors.lastname: Choi
authors.forename: Bin
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Hwangbo
authors.forename: Hong Gi
authors.initials: HG
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: Sook Ryun
authors.initials: SR
authors.lastname: Park
authors.forename: Il Ju
authors.initials: IJ
authors.lastname: Choi
authors.forename: Chan Gyoo
authors.initials: CG
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Keun Won
authors.initials: KW
authors.lastname: Ryu
authors.forename: Young-Woo
authors.initials: YW
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Jin Soo
authors.initials: JS
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: Jae-Moon
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Bae
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000971:Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000069287:Capecitabine; D002277:Carcinoma / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000556:secondary; D003841:Deoxycytidine / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000031:analogs & derivatives*; D000077143:Docetaxel; D005260:Female; D005472:Fluorouracil / Q000031:analogs & derivatives; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D013274:Stomach Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000473:pathology; D016019:Survival Analysis; D043823:Taxoids / Q000008:administration & dosage
chemical_list: D043823:Taxoids; D003841:Deoxycytidine; D000077143:Docetaxel; D000069287:Capecitabine; D005472:Fluorouracil