title: Oral fluoropyrimidines (capecitabine or S-1) and cisplatin as first line treatment in elderly patients with advanced gastric cancer: a retrospective study.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  This study aimed to evaluate the safety and efficacy of oral fluoropyrimidines and cisplatin therapy in elderly patients with untreated advanced gastric cancer (AGC) retrospectively. In addition, we evaluated the relative activity and toxicity of these agents in this patient population.
  
  
  METHODS
  Clinical data from 72 patients with previously untreated AGC, who were treated with capecitabine/cisplatin and S-1/cisplatin, were reviewed. Oral fluoropyrimidines were administered orally twice a day on Days 1-14. The dose of capecitabine was 1250 mg/m(2) and that of S-1 was 50 mg [body surface area (BSA) < 1.5 m(3)] or 60 mg (BSA > 1.5 m(3)) twice a day. Cisplatin was administered intravenously on Day 1 (before the first dose of capecitabine or S-1) at a dose of 70 mg/m(2) over a 2 h period. The chemotherapy cycle was of 3 weeks (with oral capecitabine or S-1).
  
  
  RESULTS
  Thirty-two and 40 patients received the S-1 and capecitabine regimens, respectively, and were included in the analysis. The S-1 protocol had a response rate of 40.6%, a median time-to-progression (TTP) of 5.4 months and a median survival of 9.6 months. The capecitabine had a response rate of 55%, a median TTP of 5.9 months and a median survival of 10.2 months. Each protocol had a similar incidence of Grade 3 or 4 adverse events. However, there was a higher rate of the hand-foot syndrome (6 versus 37%) and diarrhea (25 versus 32%) in the capecitabine group.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Oral fluoropyrimidines and cisplatin in elderly patients with untreated AGC showed encouraging results. The treatment was well tolerated with a manageable toxicity profile. The comparison of S-1 with capecitabine showed that capecitabine had a slightly higher response rate (statistically not significant) in addition to a higher rate of adverse events such as the hand-foot syndrome and diarrhea. These data should be warranted with further prospective studies.
authors.affiliation: Hematology-Oncology Division, Department of Internal Medicine, Pusan National University Hospital, Seo-Gu, Busan, Korea.
authors.forename: Young Mi
authors.initials: YM
authors.lastname: Seol
authors.forename: Moo Kon
authors.initials: MK
authors.lastname: Song
authors.forename: Young Jin
authors.initials: YJ
authors.lastname: Choi
authors.forename: Gwang Ha
authors.initials: GH
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Ho Jin
authors.initials: HJ
authors.lastname: Shin
authors.forename: Geun Am
authors.initials: GA
authors.lastname: Song
authors.forename: Joo Seop
authors.initials: JS
authors.lastname: Chung
authors.forename: Goon Jae
authors.initials: GJ
authors.lastname: Cho
mesh_terms: D000230:Adenocarcinoma / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000556:secondary / Q000601:surgery; D000284:Administration, Oral; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000971:Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000069287:Capecitabine; D002945:Cisplatin / Q000008:administration & dosage; D003131:Combined Modality Therapy; D003841:Deoxycytidine / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000031:analogs & derivatives; D004338:Drug Combinations; D005260:Female; D005472:Fluorouracil / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000031:analogs & derivatives; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D020714:Maximum Tolerated Dose; D009364:Neoplasm Recurrence, Local / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D010094:Oxonic Acid / Q000008:administration & dosage; D011379:Prognosis; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013274:Stomach Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery; D005641:Tegafur / Q000008:administration & dosage
chemical_list: D004338:Drug Combinations; D003841:Deoxycytidine; C079198:S 1 (combination); D005641:Tegafur; D010094:Oxonic Acid; D000069287:Capecitabine; D002945:Cisplatin; D005472:Fluorouracil