title: Salvage chemotherapy with docetaxel and epirubicin for advanced/metastatic gastric cancer.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  We conducted a phase II study to assess the efficacy and tolerability of docetaxel and epirubicin as salvage chemotherapy in advanced/metastatic gastric cancer patients with documented progression after 5-fluorouracil/platinum-based combination chemotherapy.
  
  
  METHODS
  Docetaxel 75 mg/m(2) and epirubicin 50 mg/m(2) were administered on days 1 and 2, respectively, every 3 weeks. Treatment continued until progression of disease or until a life-threatening adverse event occurred. The primary objectives of this study were to evaluate the safety profile and response rate to this treatment regimen.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Thirty-four patients were enrolled in the study. Twenty-six patients had locally advanced or metastatic disease at the time of diagnosis, and 8 patients had recurrent disease after surgical resection of the primary tumor. A total of 157 chemotherapy cycles were administered. Seven (21.8%) patients had a partial response and 12 (37.5%) patients had stable disease. The median time to progression and overall survival were 4.1 and 13.4 months, respectively. Grade III/IV hematologic toxicities included neutropenia in 16 patients (47%) and febrile neutropenia in 8 patients (24%). Nonhematologic toxicities were rare.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  A combination of chemotherapy with docetaxel and epirubicin showed moderate activity as salvage treatment in advanced/metastatic gastric cancer, especially in patients who had responded to prior chemotherapy.
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine, Yongdong Severance Cancer Center, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, South Korea.
authors.forename: Jae Yun
authors.initials: JY
authors.lastname: Lim
authors.forename: Jae Yong
authors.initials: JY
authors.lastname: Cho
authors.forename: Yong Han
authors.initials: YH
authors.lastname: Paik
authors.forename: Dong Ki
authors.initials: DK
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: Sang In
authors.initials: SI
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: Hyo Jin
authors.initials: HJ
authors.lastname: Park
authors.forename: Se Joon
authors.initials: SJ
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: Kwan Sik
authors.initials: KS
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: Dong Sup
authors.initials: DS
authors.lastname: Yoon
authors.forename: Seung Ho
authors.initials: SH
authors.lastname: Choi
mesh_terms: D000230:Adenocarcinoma / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000556:secondary; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000903:Antibiotics, Antineoplastic / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects; D000972:Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects; D000971:Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D018450:Disease Progression; D018572:Disease-Free Survival; D000077143:Docetaxel; D004334:Drug Administration Schedule; D015251:Epirubicin / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects; D005260:Female; D005472:Fluorouracil / Q000008:administration & dosage; D006402:Hematologic Diseases / Q000139:chemically induced; D006801:Humans; D008207:Lymphatic Metastasis; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009364:Neoplasm Recurrence, Local / Q000188:drug therapy; D018579:Patient Selection; D017671:Platinum Compounds / Q000008:administration & dosage; D016879:Salvage Therapy / Q000379:methods*; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D013274:Stomach Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000473:pathology*; D043823:Taxoids / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D000903:Antibiotics, Antineoplastic; D000972:Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic; D017671:Platinum Compounds; D043823:Taxoids; D000077143:Docetaxel; D015251:Epirubicin; D005472:Fluorouracil