title: A prospective phase II study of cetuximab in combination with XELOX (capecitabine and oxaliplatin) in patients with metastatic and/or recurrent advanced gastric cancer.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  We evaluated the efficacy and safety of cetuximab in combination with XELOX [XELoda® (capecitabine) and OXaliplatin] in advanced gastric cancer (AGC) patients. The objectives were to evaluate overall response rate (ORR), progression-free survival (PFS), overall survival (OS), and safety of cetuximab plus XELOX.
  
  
  METHODS
  Previously untreated AGC patients received intravenous infusion of cetuximab 400 mg/m² on day 1 followed by weekly infusions of 250 mg/m². Oxaliplatin 130 mg/m² was administered intravenously on day 1 and capecitabine 1,000 mg/m² bid was administered orally for 14 days of a 3-week cycle. Chemotherapy was given until disease progression or intolerable toxicities. On completing maximum 8 cycles of chemotherapy, patients were allowed weekly cetuximab until progression. Response evaluations were done every two cycles and toxicities were assessed at each visit.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Forty-four patients (29 male) were enrolled; median age was 57.5 years (range 36-70). In total, 253 cycles of XELOX chemotherapy (range 1-8, median 6.5 cycles) and 917 cetuximab infusions (range 1-58, median 19.0) were delivered. Overall RR was 52.3%. Median PFS and OS were 6.5 months (95% CI, 4.9-8.4) and 11.8 months (95% CI, 6.7-16.8), respectively. The most common toxicities of all grades were anemia (81.8% of patients), asthenia (81.8%), anorexia (79.6%), hand-foot syndrome (79.6%), acneiform skin eruption (77.2%), and sensory neuropathy (75.0%), and they were mostly grade 1 or 2. Grade 3-4 hematologic toxicities were uncommon (anemia, 6.8%; thrombocytopenia, 2.3%).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Cetuximab in combination with XELOX chemotherapy was active and safe as first-line treatment of metastatic and/or recurrent AGC patients.
authors.affiliation: Department of Oncology, Asan Medical Center, University of Ulsan College of Medicine, Songpa-gu, Seoul, South Korea.
authors.forename: Chul
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Jae-Lyun
authors.initials: JL
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: Min-Hee
authors.initials: MH
authors.lastname: Ryu
authors.forename: Heung Moon
authors.initials: HM
authors.lastname: Chang
authors.forename: Tae Won
authors.initials: TW
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Ho Young
authors.initials: HY
authors.lastname: Lim
authors.forename: Hye Jin
authors.initials: HJ
authors.lastname: Kang
authors.forename: Young Suk
authors.initials: YS
authors.lastname: Park
authors.forename: Baek-Yeol
authors.initials: BY
authors.lastname: Ryoo
authors.forename: Yoon-Koo
authors.initials: YK
authors.lastname: Kang
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D061067:Antibodies, Monoclonal, Humanized; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000971:Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000069287:Capecitabine; D000068818:Cetuximab; D003841:Deoxycytidine / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000031:analogs & derivatives / Q000627:therapeutic use; D018572:Disease-Free Survival; D066246:ErbB Receptors / Q000378:metabolism; D005260:Female; D005472:Fluorouracil / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000031:analogs & derivatives / Q000627:therapeutic use; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009362:Neoplasm Metastasis; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D010071:Oxaloacetates; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012008:Recurrence; D013274:Stomach Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000473:pathology*; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D061067:Antibodies, Monoclonal, Humanized; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; D010071:Oxaloacetates; D003841:Deoxycytidine; D000069287:Capecitabine; D066246:ErbB Receptors; D000068818:Cetuximab; D005472:Fluorouracil