A Phase II study of oxaliplatin with low-dose leucovorin and bolus and continuous infusion 5-fluorouracil (modified FOLFOX-4) for gastric cancer patients with malignant ascites.
BACKGROUND
Clinical studies regarding chemotherapy for gastric cancer patients with malignant ascites have been classically rather limited in scope, largely because peritoneal seeding produces no measurable lesions, and patients generally exhibited poor performance status. Herein, we have evaluated the efficacy and toxicity of a fortnightly modified FOLFOX-4 (m-FOLFOX) regimen.


METHODS
Gastric cancer patients with cytologically confirmed malignant ascites were treated with cycles of oxaliplatin at 85 mg/m(2) plus leucovorin 20 mg/m(2) on the first day of treatment, followed by 5-fluorouracil (5-FU) via a 400 mg/m(2) bolus and a 22 h continuous infusion of 600 mg/m(2) 5-FU on Days 1-2 at 2-week intervals.


RESULTS
Forty-eight patients participated in this study. Twenty-two patients (45.8%) were treated with m-FOLFOX-4 as a first line palliative treatment. Twenty-one patients (43.8%) were adjudged to have an Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group (ECOG) performance status of 2. Thirty-six patients were assessable and exhibited measurable lesions. Twelve (33.3%) patients evidenced partial responses. Decreases or disappearances of ascites levels were observed in 17 (35.4%) patients. The median time to progression and overall survival time were 3.5 (95% CI: 2.9-4.1) months and 8.4 (95% CI: 4.9-11.9) months, respectively. Major hematologic toxicities included Grades 1-2 anemia (53.9%), neutropenia (41.6%) and, Grades 3-4 neutropenia (15.8%). The most frequently detected non-hematological toxicities were Grades 2 and 3 nausea/vomiting (17%). We noted no deaths related to treatment.


CONCLUSIONS
The m-FOLFOX-4 regimen utilized herein was determined to be both safe and feasible even for gastric cancer patients with malignant ascites in poor performance status.
Oh
Sung Yong
SY
Department of Internal Medicine, Dong-A University College of Medicine, 3-1 Dongdaeshin-dong, Seo-gu, Busan 602-715, South Korea.
Kwon
Hyuk-Chan
HC
Lee
Suee
S
Lee
Dong Mee
DM
Yoo
Hyun Seung
HS
Kim
Sung-Hyun
SH
Jang
Jin Seok
JS
Kim
Min Chan
MC
Jeong
Jin-Sook
JS
Kim
Hyo-Jin
HJ
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000740:Anemia / Q000139:chemically induced; D000971:Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000009:adverse effects*; D001201:Ascites / Q000209:etiology*; D002277:Carcinoma / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000556:secondary; D018572:Disease-Free Survival; D004334:Drug Administration Schedule; D005240:Feasibility Studies; D005260:Female; D005472:Fluorouracil / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects; D006801:Humans; D007262:Infusions, Intravenous; D007275:Injections, Intravenous; D002955:Leucovorin / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects; D008207:Lymphatic Metastasis; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009325:Nausea / Q000139:chemically induced; D009503:Neutropenia / Q000139:chemically induced; D009944:Organoplatinum Compounds / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects; D000077150:Oxaliplatin; D010166:Palliative Care / Q000379:methods*; D013274:Stomach Neoplasms / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000473:pathology; D016019:Survival Analysis; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014839:Vomiting / Q000139:chemically induced
D009944:Organoplatinum Compounds; D000077150:Oxaliplatin; D002955:Leucovorin; D005472:Fluorouracil