title: Intensive weekly chemotherapy with docetaxel, epirubicin and carboplatin with G-CSF support in patients with advanced gastric cancer: a Hellenic Cooperative Oncology Group (HeCOG) phase II study.
abstract: Chemotherapy is an established modality in the management of patients with advanced gastric cancer but the optimal regimen has not been defined yet. Platinum and the anthracyclines and more recently docetaxel have shown activity in this tumor. The primary objective of this phase II study was to assess the efficacy and safety of an intensified regimen of weekly docetaxel/epirubicin/carboplatin (DECb) with growth factor support in previously untreated patients with advanced gastric cancer. A total of 72 patients with measurable disease received docetaxel at a dose of 30 mg/m2, epirubicin at a dose of 30 mg/m2 and carboplatin to a target area under the curve (AUC) of 2, every week for 6 consecutive weeks followed by 2 weeks' rest, with filgrastim support. Analysis was performed on an intention to treat basis. The main toxicity was hematologic with grade 3/4 neutropenia occurring in 35% of the patients. Other grade 3/4 toxicities included anemia (7%), thrombocytopenia (14%) and leucopenia (26%). The relative dose intensity of docetaxel and epirubicin was 62%. The overall response rate was 21%, the median time to tumor progression was 4.1 months and the median survival 7.3 months. Intensified weekly treatment with DECb has modest activity in the treatment of advanced gastric cancer. Myelotoxicity limits adequate drug delivery.
authors.affiliation: Division of Oncology, Department of Medicine, University Hospital, Patras Medical School, Patras, Greece. maktom@yahoo.com
authors.forename: Thomas
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Makatsoris
authors.forename: Pavlos
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Papakostas
authors.forename: Haralabos P
authors.initials: HP
authors.lastname: Kalofonos
authors.forename: Ioannis
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Xanthakis
authors.forename: Dimitrios
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Tsavdaridis
authors.forename: Gerasimos
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Aravantinos
authors.forename: Helen
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Gogas
authors.forename: George
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Klouvas
authors.forename: Paris
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Kosmidis
authors.forename: Dimitrios
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Pectasides
authors.forename: George
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Fountzilas
mesh_terms: D000230:Adenocarcinoma / Q000188:drug therapy*; D000276:Adjuvants, Immunologic / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000971:Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000009:adverse effects; D016190:Carboplatin / Q000008:administration & dosage; D003131:Combined Modality Therapy; D000077143:Docetaxel; D004334:Drug Administration Schedule; D015251:Epirubicin / Q000008:administration & dosage; D005260:Female; D016179:Granulocyte Colony-Stimulating Factor / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D006402:Hematologic Diseases / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000517:prevention & control; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D018709:Statistics, Nonparametric; D013274:Stomach Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy*; D016019:Survival Analysis; D043823:Taxoids / Q000008:administration & dosage; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D000276:Adjuvants, Immunologic; D043823:Taxoids; D016179:Granulocyte Colony-Stimulating Factor; D000077143:Docetaxel; D015251:Epirubicin; D016190:Carboplatin