title: Epirubicin-docetaxel in advanced gastric cancer: two phase II studies as second and first line treatment.
abstract: 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.
authors.affiliation: Service d'oncologie, Centre hospitalier, 40 avenue Léon-Blum, 60021 Beauvais Cedex, France. s.nguyen@ch-beauvais.fr
authors.forename: Suzanne
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Nguyen
authors.forename: Christine
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Rebischung
authors.forename: Johan
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Van Ongeval
authors.forename: Michel
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Flesch
authors.forename: Mustapha
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Bennamoun
authors.forename: Thierry
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: André
authors.forename: Marc
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Ychou
authors.forename: Erik
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Gamelin
authors.forename: Elisabeth
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Carola
authors.forename: Christophe
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Louvet
mesh_terms: 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
chemical_list: D043823:Taxoids; D000077143:Docetaxel; D015251:Epirubicin