Epirubicin-docetaxel in advanced gastric cancer: two phase II studies as second and first line treatment.
METHODS
We evaluated the Epitax combination (epirubicin 60 mg/m2 and docetaxel 75 mg/m2, every 3 weeks) in advanced gastric cancer (AGC) as second-line treatment after fluorouracil and platinum in 50 patients, then as first-line treatment in 36 patients. We report here the results of these two phase II studies.


RESULTS
In the second-line treatment, the response rate (RR) was 15.5%. Grade 3-4 neutropenia was observed in 68% (febrile neutropenia in 40%, one treatment-related death). Median time to progression (TTP) and overall survival (OS) were 2.4 and 5.0 months, respectively. In the first-line treatment, the RR was 19.4%. With prophylactic granulocyte colony-stimulating factor, grade 3-4 neutropenia was reported in 38.9%. Then 22 patients received a second-line and 11 patients a third-line treatment. Median TTP and OS were 4.5 and 12 months, respectively.


CONCLUSIONS
Epitax showed moderate activity in AGC. RR in both trials suggests a non-cross resistance with fluorouracil/platinum combination. The 12-month OS in the first-line treatment could be partly explained by early evaluation and active non-cross resistant second-line therapy.
Nguyen
Suzanne
S
Service d'oncologie, Centre hospitalier, 40 avenue Léon-Blum, 60021 Beauvais Cedex, France. s.nguyen@ch-beauvais.fr
Rebischung
Christine
C
Van Ongeval
Johan
J
Flesch
Michel
M
Bennamoun
Mustapha
M
André
Thierry
T
Ychou
Marc
M
Gamelin
Erik
E
Carola
Elisabeth
E
Louvet
Christophe
C
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000971:Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D018450:Disease Progression; D000077143:Docetaxel; D015251:Epirubicin / Q000008:administration & dosage; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007262:Infusions, Intravenous; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009364:Neoplasm Recurrence, Local / Q000188:drug therapy; D009503:Neutropenia / Q000139:chemically induced; D013274:Stomach Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000473:pathology; D016019:Survival Analysis; D043823:Taxoids / Q000008:administration & dosage; D016896:Treatment Outcome
D043823:Taxoids; D000077143:Docetaxel; D015251:Epirubicin