title: A phase II study of S-1 monotherapy administered for 2 weeks of a 3-week cycle in advanced gastric cancer patients with poor performance status.
abstract: Systemic chemotherapy for gastric cancer is often associated with treatment-related toxicity, which is particularly severe in patients with a poor performance status. In this paper, we describe the first study to evaluate S-1 monotherapy as an option for advanced gastric cancer patients who are not candidates for combination chemotherapy due to poor clinical condition. Fifty-two patients with Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group (ECOG) performance scale 2-3, whose general condition had made use of combination chemotherapy impossible, were enrolled. S-1 was administered to 30 patients as second- or third-line therapy. The initial dose of S-1 was 35 mg m(-2), administered b.i.d for 14 days every 3 weeks. With a median follow-up period of 33 weeks, the median progression-free survival, and overall survival were 11 weeks (95% CI, 8-14) and 33 weeks (95% CI, 19-47), respectively. The overall 1-year survival rate was 29% by intent-to-treat analysis. The overall response rate was 12% (95% CI, 3-21), and the percentage of stable disease was 35%, resulting in the disease control rate of 47% (95% CI, 32-60). Significant drug-related toxicity included grade 3 diarrhoea (14%), anorexia (14%), fatigue (10%), neutropenia (10%), and leucopenia (6%). In conclusion, this study indicated the modest activity of S-1 in gastric cancer patients with poor performance status.
authors.affiliation: Cancer Metastasis Research Center, Yonsei Cancer Center, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.
authors.forename: H-C
authors.initials: HC
authors.lastname: Jeung
authors.forename: S Y
authors.initials: SY
authors.lastname: Rha
authors.forename: S J
authors.initials: SJ
authors.lastname: Shin
authors.forename: J B
authors.initials: JB
authors.lastname: Ahn
authors.forename: S H
authors.initials: SH
authors.lastname: Noh
authors.forename: J K
authors.initials: JK
authors.lastname: Roh
authors.forename: H C
authors.initials: HC
authors.lastname: Chung
mesh_terms: D000230:Adenocarcinoma / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000401:mortality / Q000473:pathology; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000964:Antimetabolites, Antineoplastic / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects; D018450:Disease Progression; D004334:Drug Administration Schedule; D004338:Drug Combinations; D005240:Feasibility Studies; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010094:Oxonic Acid / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000009:adverse effects; D011379:Prognosis; D013274:Stomach Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000401:mortality / Q000473:pathology; D016019:Survival Analysis; D005641:Tegafur / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000009:adverse effects; D013997:Time Factors; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D000964:Antimetabolites, Antineoplastic; D004338:Drug Combinations; C079198:S 1 (combination); D005641:Tegafur; D010094:Oxonic Acid