title: Chemoimmunotherapy in the treatment of metastatic gastric cancer.
abstract: Docetaxel, capecitabine and 5-fluorouracil have been shown to be active in the treatment of metastatic gastric adenocarcinoma. Consistent with this finding, the aim of this study was to test this combination in a clinical trial. Forty-one patients with metastatic gastric adenocarcinoma and a median age of 64 years were recruited for the study. The treatment was based on the administration of docetaxel 60 mg/m2 every 4 weeks, leucovorin 200 mg/m2, 5-fluorouracil 400 mg/m2 bolus, and capecitabine 1000 mg/m2 twice daily on days 1 and 2 every 2 weeks. Patients achieving a clinical benefit were treated, as maintenance immunotherapy, with low-dose interleukin-2 and 13-cis-retinoic acid. The primary end point of this phase II study was the response rate. The secondary end points relied on the evaluation of the immunological parameters, toxicity, and progression-free survival and overall survival. The overall response rate in the 41 evaluable patients was estimated to be 49%. Median progression-free and overall survival was 9.5 and 21.1 months, respectively. Grade 3 and 4 hematological toxicities were neutropenia and thrombocytopenia in 44 and 5% of patients, respectively. A sustained improvement of evaluated immunological parameters with a negligible toxicity profile was observed in the 27 patients treated with interleukin 1-2/13-cis-retinoic acid. Docetaxel in combination with leucovorin, 5-fluorouracil and capecitabine followed by low-dose interleukin 1-2 and 13-cis-retinoic acid is well tolerated, and shows a significant activity in patients with metastatic gastric adenocarcinoma.
authors.affiliation: Civilian Hospital, Oncology Unit, Avezzano, Carlo Ferri Foundation, Monterotondo, Rome, and Clinical Epidemiology, University of L'Aquila, Italy. frecchia1946@libero.it
authors.forename: Francesco
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Recchia
authors.forename: Gaetano
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Saggio
authors.forename: Giampiero
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Candeloro
authors.forename: Alisia
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Cesta
authors.forename: Giovanna
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Amiconi
authors.forename: Anna Di
authors.initials: AD
authors.lastname: Blasio
authors.forename: Stefano
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Necozione
authors.forename: Silvio
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Rea
mesh_terms: D000230:Adenocarcinoma / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000601:surgery / Q000628:therapy*; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000931:Antidotes / Q000008:administration & dosage; D000964:Antimetabolites, Antineoplastic / Q000008:administration & dosage; D000972:Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic / Q000008:administration & dosage; D000971:Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D016516:CD4-CD8 Ratio; D000069287:Capecitabine; D003131:Combined Modality Therapy; D003841:Deoxycytidine / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000031:analogs & derivatives; D018450:Disease Progression; D000077143:Docetaxel; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D023381:Endpoint Determination; D005260:Female; D005472:Fluorouracil / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000031:analogs & derivatives; D006801:Humans; D007167:Immunotherapy; D007694:Killer Cells, Natural / Q000276:immunology / Q000502:physiology; D002955:Leucovorin / Q000008:administration & dosage; D018655:Lymphocyte Count; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009362:Neoplasm Metastasis / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000473:pathology / Q000628:therapy; D013274:Stomach Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000601:surgery / Q000628:therapy*; D016019:Survival Analysis; D043823:Taxoids / Q000008:administration & dosage; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D000931:Antidotes; D000964:Antimetabolites, Antineoplastic; D000972:Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic; D043823:Taxoids; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A; D003841:Deoxycytidine; D000077143:Docetaxel; D000069287:Capecitabine; D002955:Leucovorin; D005472:Fluorouracil