title: Oxaliplatin, 5-fluorouracil/leucovorin and epirubicin as first-line treatment in advanced gastric carcinoma: a phase II study.
abstract: The association between oxaliplatin and 5-fluorouracil (5-FU) has been extensively reported to improve prognosis of gastric cancer patients. The present study is aimed at evaluating response rate and the toxicity profile of the association with oxaliplatin, 5-FU/lecovorin and epirubicin in gastric cancer patients with locally advanced or metastatic disease. Thirty-six patients have been enrolled and 35 evaluated. The treatment schedule was oxaliplatin (100 mg m(-2)), 5-FU (400 mg m(-2)), leucovorin (40 mg m(-2)) and epirubicin (60 mg m(-2)) intravenously. administered every 3 weeks for 6 months, for a total of 185 therapy cycles . Response rate and toxicity were assessed according to the international WHO criteria. Every patient received a mean of 5.3 therapy cycles in a day-hospital setting. Sixteen of 35 patients (46%) showed an objective response, two complete response and 14 partial response. Median time to progression was 33 weeks with an overall median survival of 49 weeks. During the study, anaemia grade 3 and neutropenia grade 3 were observed in 9 and 11% of patients respectively. A grade 3 periferic sensorial neuropathy was observed in 6% of patients. No life threatening or cardiac toxicity was recorded. The regimen used showed anticancer activity against gastric carcinoma, a tolerable toxicity profile and excellent patient compliance.
authors.affiliation: Department of Oncology, Centre of Experimental and Clinical Oncology, University of Florence, Florence, Italy. bruno.neri@unifi.it
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Neri
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Pantaleo
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Giommoni
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Grifoni
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Paoletti
authors.forename: V
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Rotella
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Pantalone
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Taddei
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Mercatelli
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Tonelli
mesh_terms: D000230:Adenocarcinoma / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000556:secondary; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000971:Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001859:Bone Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000556:secondary; D015179:Colorectal Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000473:pathology; D015251:Epirubicin / Q000008:administration & dosage; D005260:Female; D005472:Fluorouracil / Q000008:administration & dosage; D006801:Humans; D002955:Leucovorin / Q000008:administration & dosage; D008113:Liver Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000556:secondary; D008175:Lung Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000556:secondary; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009944:Organoplatinum Compounds / Q000008:administration & dosage; D000077150:Oxaliplatin; D011379:Prognosis; D015996:Survival Rate
chemical_list: D009944:Organoplatinum Compounds; D000077150:Oxaliplatin; D015251:Epirubicin; D002955:Leucovorin; D005472:Fluorouracil