title: Emerging drugs in the treatment of advanced gastric cancer.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Gastroesopheal cancer is one of the most common cancers worldwide. If detected early, curative treatment is possible. Often, gastroesophageal cancer is detected at an advanced stage when therapy is palliative.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To provide a critical evaluation of historic and recently developed chemotherapy regimens for the treatment of advanced gastroesophageal cancer (AGC).
  
  
  METHODS
  Published clinical trials in AGC as well as selected abstracts presented at international oncology meetings were selected.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Chemotherapy has demonstrated a benefit over best supportive care alone by improving the quality and quantity of life for patients with advanced disease. Recent Phase III trials investigating cytotoxic chemotherapy and Phase II trials incorporating biotherapy for the treatment of AGC show promise for the future.
authors.affiliation: University of Texas, M.D. Anderson Cancer Center, Department of Gastrointestinal Medical Oncology, Houston, Texas 77030, USA.
authors.forename: Eric D
authors.initials: ED
authors.lastname: Tetzlaff
authors.forename: Putao
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Cen
authors.forename: Jaffer A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Ajani
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D017322:Clinical Trials, Phase II as Topic / Q000639:trends; D017326:Clinical Trials, Phase III as Topic / Q000639:trends; D015507:Drugs, Investigational / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D006801:Humans; D013274:Stomach Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000453:epidemiology
chemical_list: D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; D015507:Drugs, Investigational