Bi-weekly irinotecan hydrochloride and cisplatin as a second-line chemotherapy for patients with advanced gastric cancer.
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate the effectiveness of bi-weekly administered irinotecan (CPT-11) and Cisplatin (CDDP) as a second-line chemotherapy for patients with advanced gastric cancer.


METHODS
We included 22 patients who were resistant to 5-fluorouracil (5-FU) -based chemotherapy. CPT-11 (80 mg/m (2)) and CDDP (25 mg/m(2)) were administered bi-weekly on days 1 and 15 of a 4-week-cycle, on an outpatient basis except for the first time. Outcome variables include tumor response, toxicity, and survival.


RESULTS
Among all patients, 8 responded to the therapy, yielding an overall response rate of 36.4% (complete response, n=1; partial response, n=7), while 14 did not respond (stable disease, n=9; progressive disease, n=5). The time to progression was 5.3 months, and the median survival was 10.6 months. Adverse reactions included Grade 3 or 4 leucopenia (n=4; 18.2%), Grade 3 or 4 thrombocytopenia (n=1; 4.5%) but all of these patients recovered soon (within one week).


CONCLUSIONS
Bi-weekly CPT-11 and CDDP treatment was effective and should be considered as a second-line chemotherapy for patients with advanced gastric cancer who are resistant to 5-FU based chemotherapy.
Suzuki
Shuji
S
Hachioji Digestive Disease Hospital.
Harada
Nobuhiko
N
Takeo
Yasuyoshi
Y
Tanaka
Seiichi
S
Hayashi
Tsuneo
T
Suzuki
Mamoru
M
Hanyu
Fujio
F
D000972:Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic / Q000008:administration & dosage; D000971:Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002166:Camptothecin / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000031:analogs & derivatives; D002945:Cisplatin / Q000008:administration & dosage; D018450:Disease Progression; D004334:Drug Administration Schedule; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D000077146:Irinotecan; D008297:Male; D013274:Stomach Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000401:mortality; D015996:Survival Rate; D016896:Treatment Outcome
D000972:Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic; D000077146:Irinotecan; D002945:Cisplatin; D002166:Camptothecin