title: A phase II study of biweekly oxaliplatin plus infusional 5-fluorouracil and folinic acid (FOLFOX-4) as first-line treatment of advanced gastric cancer patients.
abstract: The aim of the study was to assess the toxicity and the clinical activity of biweekly oxaliplatin in combination with infusional 5-fluorouracil (5-FU) and folinic acid (FA) administered every 2 weeks (FOLFOX-4 regimen) in patients with advanced gastric cancer (AGC). A total of 61 previously untreated AGC patients were treated with oxaliplatin 85 mg m(-2) on day 1, FA 200 mg m(-2) as a 2 h infusion followed by bolus 5-FU 400 mg m(-2) and a 22 h infusion of 5-FU 600 mg m(-2), repeated for 2 consecutive days every 2 weeks. All patients were assessable for toxicity and response to treatment. Four (7%) complete responses and 19 partial responses were observed (overall response rate, 38%). Stable disease was observed in 22 (36%) patients, with progressive disease in the other six (10%) patients. Median time to progression (TTP) and median overall survival (OS) were 7.1 and 11.2 months, respectively. National Cancer Institute Common Toxicity Criteria grade 3 and 4 haematologic toxicities were neutropenia, anaemia and thrombocytopenia in 36, 10 and 5% of the patients, respectively. Grade 3 peripheral neuropathy was recorded in three (5%) patients. FOLFOX-4 is an active and well-tolerated chemotherapy. Response rate (RR), TTP and OS were comparable with those of other oxaliplatin-based regimens, suggesting a role for this combination in gastric cancer.
authors.affiliation: Division of Medical Oncology, F Magrassi & A Lanzara Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, Second University of Naples School of Medicine, Naples, Italy. fernandodevita@yahoo.it
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: De Vita
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Orditura
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Matano
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Bianco
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Carlomagno
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Infusino
authors.forename: V
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Damiano
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Simeone
authors.forename: M R
authors.initials: MR
authors.lastname: Diadema
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Lieto
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Castellano
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Pepe
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: De Placido
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Galizia
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Di Martino
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Ciardiello
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Catalano
authors.forename: A R
authors.initials: AR
authors.lastname: Bianco
mesh_terms: D000230:Adenocarcinoma / Q000188:drug therapy; D000368:Aged; D000971:Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D018279:Carcinoma, Signet Ring Cell / Q000188:drug therapy; D004334:Drug Administration Schedule; D005260:Female; D005472:Fluorouracil / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D006801:Humans; D002955:Leucovorin / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009362:Neoplasm Metastasis; D009503:Neutropenia / Q000139:chemically induced; D009944:Organoplatinum Compounds / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D013274:Stomach Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000473:pathology; D015996:Survival Rate
chemical_list: D009944:Organoplatinum Compounds; D002955:Leucovorin; D005472:Fluorouracil