Docetaxel combined with oral etoposide as second-line treatment for advanced gastric carcinoma after failure of platinum- and fluoropyrimidine-based regimens.
BACKGROUND
Platinum, antracyline, and fluoropyrimidine combination chemotherapy has been widely used as a first-line treatment for advanced gastric cancer (AGC). In the present study, we determined the efficacy and the safety of docetaxel and oral etoposide as second-line combination chemotherapy after failure of commonly used combination regimens in AGC.


METHODS
Patients with histologically proven gastric cancer and measurable metastatic disease received docetaxel 75 mg/m(2) as a 1-h intravenous infusion on day 1, and oral etoposide 50 mg/m(2) once daily on days 1-5, every 3 weeks until disease progression or unacceptable toxicities.


RESULTS
Between June 2006 and September 2008, 32 patients, of median age 60 years (range 32-77 years) were included in the study. Overall response rate was 9.4% and 31.3% of patients achieved a stable disease. Median progression-free survival was 3 months (95% CI, 2.5-3.5). Median overall survival was 6 months (95% CI, 3.8-8.2) with 16.9% 1-year survival rate. Grade 3-4 toxicities included neutropenia (28.8%), febrile neutropenia (18.8%), thrombocytopenia (3.1%), nausea and vomiting (15.6%), diarrhea (9.4%), and mucositis (6.2%).


CONCLUSIONS
Docetaxel and oral etoposide combination was moderately effective and safe in appropriately selected AGC patients after failure of platinum- and fluoropyrimidine-based combination regimens.
Yildiz
Ramazan
R
Department of Medical Oncology, Gazi University Medical School, Ankara, Turkey.
Kalender
Mehmet Emin
ME
Dane
Faysal
F
Sevinc
Alper
A
Gumus
Mahmut
M
Camci
Celalettin
C
Alici
Suleyman
S
Kaya
Ali Osman
AO
Yaman
Emel
E
Ozturk
Banu
B
Coskun
Ugur
U
Benekli
Mustafa
M
Uncu
Dogan
D
Buyukberber
Suleyman
S
D000230:Adenocarcinoma / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000473:pathology; D000284:Administration, Oral; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000971:Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002945:Cisplatin / Q000008:administration & dosage; D000077143:Docetaxel; D005047:Etoposide / Q000008:administration & dosage; D005260:Female; D005472:Fluorouracil / Q000008:administration & dosage; D006801:Humans; D007262:Infusions, Intravenous; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009362:Neoplasm Metastasis; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013274:Stomach Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000473:pathology; D043823:Taxoids / Q000008:administration & dosage; D017211:Treatment Failure
D043823:Taxoids; D000077143:Docetaxel; D005047:Etoposide; D002945:Cisplatin; D005472:Fluorouracil