title: Efficacy and toxicity of lower dose UFT without leucovorin in metastatic gastric cancer patients.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Gastric cancer is the 4th most commonly diagnosed cancer and the 2nd leading cause of cancer death worldwide. In this study assessed were the efficacy and toxicity of the combination of epirubicin, cisplatin and UFT in patients with metastatic gastric cancer (MGC).
  
  
  METHODS
  In this retrospective study 27 patients with MGC were treated with epirubicin 50 mg/m(2) and cisplatin 60 mg/m(2) i.v. on day 1 and subsequently UFT 250 mg/m(2)/day orally in divided doses for 21 days, followed by a 7/day rest (EP/UFT).
  
  
  RESULTS
  Response and toxicity evaluation was possible for 25 patients. Three complete (12%) and 2 partial (8%) responses were observed. With a median follow-up 37 weeks (range 15-117), the median progression-free survival (PFS) and overall survival (OS) were 24 and 31 weeks, respectively. WHO grade 3 or 4 toxicity included neutropenia in 3 (12%) patients and nausea/vomiting in 1 (4%) patient. Neutropenic fever developed in only 1 (4%) patient.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  EP-UFT with lower UFT doses and without leucovorin support is a safe and effective regimen as first -line treatment of MGC.
authors.affiliation: Ataturk Research and Training Hospital, Department of Medical Oncology, Izmir, Turkey. isilsomali@gmail.com
authors.forename: I
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Somali
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Meydan
authors.forename: M O
authors.initials: MO
authors.lastname: Tarhan
authors.forename: I
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Oztop
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Alacacioglu
authors.forename: U
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Yilmaz
mesh_terms: D000230:Adenocarcinoma / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000401:mortality / Q000556:secondary; D000284:Administration, Oral; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000009:adverse effects; D000971:Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000009:adverse effects; D002945:Cisplatin / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000009:adverse effects; D018572:Disease-Free Survival; D015251:Epirubicin / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000009:adverse effects; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007275:Injections, Intravenous; D002955:Leucovorin / Q000008:administration & dosage; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009362:Neoplasm Metastasis; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013274:Stomach Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000401:mortality / Q000473:pathology; D005641:Tegafur / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014498:Uracil / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects; D014803:Vitamin B Complex / Q000008:administration & dosage
chemical_list: D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; D014803:Vitamin B Complex; D005641:Tegafur; D015251:Epirubicin; D014498:Uracil; D002945:Cisplatin; D002955:Leucovorin