title: Phase II study of paclitaxel, cisplatin, and 5-fluorouracil combination chemotherapy in patients with advanced gastric cancer.
abstract: This phase II study evaluated the efficacy and safety of combination chemotherapy with paclitaxel, cisplatin, and 5-fluorouracil (5-FU) in advanced gastric cancer. Patients with histologically confirmed gastric adenocarcinoma were eligible for the study. Paclitaxel (175 mg/m(2)) and cisplatin (75 mg/m(2)) were given as a 1-hr intravenous infusion on day 1, followed by 5-FU (750 mg/m(2)) as a 24-hr continuous infusion for 5 days. This cycle was repeated every 3 weeks. Forty-five eligible patients (median age, 56 yr) were treated in this way. Of the 41 patients in whom efficacy was evaluable, an objective response rate (ORR) was seen in 51.2% (95% CI, 0.35-0.67), a complete response in two, and a partial response in 19 patients. The median progression free survival was 6.9 months (95% CI, 5.86-7.94 months), and the median overall survival was 12.7 months (95% CI, 9.9-15.5). The main hematological toxicity was neutropenia and greater than grade 3 neutropenia was observed in twelve patients (54%). Febrile neutropenia developed in three patients (6.8%). The major non-hematological toxicities were asthenia and peripheral neuropathy, but most of patients showed grade 1 or 2. In conclusion, combination chemotherapy with paclitaxel, cisplatin, and 5-FU is a promising regimen, and was well tolerated in patients with advanced gastric cancer.
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine, Division of Hemato/Oncology, Chonnam National University Medical School, Gwangju, Korea.
authors.forename: Junyl
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Hwang
authors.forename: Sang-Hee
authors.initials: SH
authors.lastname: Cho
authors.forename: Hyun Jeong
authors.initials: HJ
authors.lastname: Shim
authors.forename: Se-Ryeon
authors.initials: SR
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: Jae Sook
authors.initials: JS
authors.lastname: Ahn
authors.forename: Duk-Hwan
authors.initials: DH
authors.lastname: Yang
authors.forename: Yeo-Kyeoung
authors.initials: YK
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Je-Jung
authors.initials: JJ
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: Hyeoung-Joon
authors.initials: HJ
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Ik-Joo
authors.initials: IJ
authors.lastname: Chung