title: Combination chemotherapy with 5-fluorouracil, cisplatin and paclitaxel for pretreated patients with advanced gastric cancer.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Paclitaxel, 5-FU and cisplatin are effective against gastric cancer, but the optimal regimen for combined chemotherapy with these drugs remains unclear. This combination regimen was used here for advanced gastric cancer mainly in a second- or third-line setting.
  
  
  METHODS
  Thirty-nine gastric cancer patients were treated with the following regimen. Paclitaxel 40 mg/m2 infusions were administered on days 1 and 8, combined with cisplatin (6.5 mg/m2) and 5-FU (350 mg/m2) on days 1 through 8, followed by 3 weeks' rest.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The response rate was 17.9% (7/39); seven patients had a partial response, twelve had stable disease and twenty had progressive disease. The median overall survival was 8.2 months and the median time to progression was 6.4 months. The frequency of grade 3 or 4 neutropenia, fatigue and anorexia was 7.6%, 5.1% and 7.6%, respectively.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This combination therapy is recommended as second- or third-line therapy against advanced gastric cancer, with a tolerable and acceptable toxicity profile.
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, Niigata Cancer Center Hospital, 2-15-3 Kawagishi-cho, Niigata 951-8566, Japan. kenta-y@xa2.so-net.ne.jp
authors.forename: Kentaro
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Yamaguchi
authors.forename: Satoru
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Nakagawa
authors.forename: Hiroshi
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Yabusaki
authors.forename: Atsushi
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Nashimoto
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000971:Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols; D002945:Cisplatin / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D018572:Disease-Free Survival; D005260:Female; D005472:Fluorouracil / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D017239:Paclitaxel / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D013274:Stomach Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000473:pathology
chemical_list: D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; D017239:Paclitaxel; D002945:Cisplatin; D005472:Fluorouracil