Salvage chemotherapy with docetaxel and epirubicin for advanced/metastatic gastric cancer.
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.
Lim
Jae Yun
JY
Department of Internal Medicine, Yongdong Severance Cancer Center, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, South Korea.
Cho
Jae Yong
JY
Paik
Yong Han
YH
Lee
Dong Ki
DK
Lee
Sang In
SI
Park
Hyo Jin
HJ
Lee
Se Joon
SJ
Lee
Kwan Sik
KS
Yoon
Dong Sup
DS
Choi
Seung Ho
SH
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
D000903:Antibiotics, Antineoplastic; D000972:Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic; D017671:Platinum Compounds; D043823:Taxoids; D000077143:Docetaxel; D015251:Epirubicin; D005472:Fluorouracil