Docetaxel + 5-fluorouracil + cisplatin 3-day combination chemotherapy as a first-line treatment in patients with unresectable gastric cancer.
BACKGROUND
Our objective was to verify the efficacy and safety of "docetaxel + 5-fluorouracil + cisplatin" 3-day combination chemotherapy as a first-line treatment in patients with unresectable gastric cancer.


METHODS
Between January and November 2002, we enrolled 43 patients [males 31; median age 55 years (range 24-74)] with inoperable gastric cancer who had not been seen previously in Seoul National University Hospital. The regimen used was docetaxel 70 mg/m(2) on day 1, cisplatin 40 mg/m(2) on days 2 and 3, and 5-fluorouracil 1200 mg/m(2) over 10 h on days 1-3, every 3 weeks.


RESULTS
A total of 168 cycles were administered. Mean cycle number per patient was 3.9. The administered dose intensity of docetaxel was 21.23 mg/m(2)/week, 5-FU 1092.14 mg/m(2)/week and cisplatin 23.82 mg/m(2)/week, which corresponded to 91.1, 91.0 and 89.5% of planned doses. Of the 43 patients, response evaluation was possible in 40 and, of these patients, 17 (42.5%) achieved a partial response, 13 (32.5%) stable disease, and 10 patients (25%) showed progressive disease. The median time to progression was 5.6 months [95% confidence interval (CI) 4.6-6.6 months]. Median overall survival was 9.0 months. (95% CI 4.8-13.2 months). Leukopenia occurred during 21.4% of cycles (36 of 168 cycles); 14.3% grade 1, 5.3% grade 2 and 1.8% grade 3. Anemia occurred in 16.7% (28 of 168 cycles); 11.3% grade 1, 4.8% grade 2 and 0.6% grade 3. Thrombocytopenia was not observed. Diarrhea, stomatitis and hypersensitivity occurred in 4.7% (two out of 43 patients), respectively. Neutropenic fever occurred in two patients (4.7%) and myalgia in three (7.0%).


CONCLUSIONS
"Docetaxel + 5-fluorouracil + cisplatin" 3-day combination chemotherapy is an active and tolerable regimen as a first-line treatment in patients with unresectable gastric cancer.
Department of Internal Medicine, Seoul National University College of Medicine, 28 Youngon-dong, Chongno-gu, Seoul 110-744, Korea. heo1013@plaza.snu.ac.kr
Do-Youn
DY
Oh
Tae-Yong
TY
Kim
Jung Hye
JH
Kwon
Jae-Jin
JJ
Lee
Yohan
Y
Joh
Dong-Wan
DW
Kim
Tae-You
TY
Kim
Dae Seog
DS
Heo
Yung-Jue
YJ
Bang
Noe Kyeong
NK
Kim
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000971:Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002945:Cisplatin / Q000008:administration & dosage; D000077143:Docetaxel; D005260:Female; D005472:Fluorouracil / Q000008:administration & dosage; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D020714:Maximum Tolerated Dose; D008875:Middle Aged; D013274:Stomach Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000473:pathology; D015996:Survival Rate; D043823:Taxoids / Q000008:administration & dosage
D043823:Taxoids; D000077143:Docetaxel; D002945:Cisplatin; D005472:Fluorouracil