Adjuvant chemoradiotherapy in patients with stage III or IV radically resected gastric cancer: a pilot study.
BACKGROUND
Adjuvant chemoradiotherapy does not represent the standard of care in patients with resected high-risk gastric cancer; however, results from phase 2 and randomized trials suggest improvement in overall survival. We assessed the feasibility and toxic effects of chemoradiotherapy as adjuvant treatment in locally advanced gastric cancer.


METHODS
Pilot study.


METHODS
University hospital.


METHODS
Twenty-nine patients with T4N+ or any TN23 gastric cancer previously treated with potentially curative surgery were enrolled. All of the patients received combined adjuvant chemotherapy with FOLFOX-4 (ie, a combination of folinic acid [leucovorin], fluorouracil, and oxaliplatin [Eloxatin]) for 8 cycles and concomitant radiotherapy (45 Gy in 25 daily fractions over 5 weeks). Radiotherapy was begun after the first 2 cycles of FOLFOX-4, which was reduced by 25% during the period of concomitant radiotherapy.


METHODS
Treatment toxic effects according to the National Cancer Institute-Common Toxicity Criteria classification, overall and disease-free survival rates, and identification of prognostic indicators.


RESULTS
All of the patients completed treatment. Severe hematologic and gastrointestinal toxic effects occurred in 10% and 33%, respectively. No acute hepatic or renal toxic effects were observed; 1 patient experienced severe neurotoxicity. Disease-free and overall survival rates at 1, 2, and 3 years were 79%, 35%, and 35% and 85%, 62.6%, and 50.1%, respectively, and were shown to be substantially better than those observed in untreated patients. Long-term outcome was related to TNM stage, basal serum tumor marker level, and, particularly, lymph node ratio.


CONCLUSIONS
A multimodal approach with FOLFOX-4 and radiotherapy is feasible and effective for the treatment of patients with resected high-risk gastric cancer.
Division of Medical Oncology, F. Magrassi-A. Lanzara Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine and Surgery, Second University of Naples School of Medicine, c/o II Policlinico, Via Pansini 5, Naples, Italy. michele.orditura@unina2.it
Michele
M
Orditura
Ferdinando
F
De Vita
Paolo
P
Muto
Fabiana
F
Vitiello
Paola
P
Murino
Eva
E
Lieto
Loredana
L
Vecchione
Anna
A
Romano
Erika
E
Martinelli
Andrea
A
Renda
Francesca
F
Ferraraccio
Alberto
A
Del Genio
Fortunato
F
Ciardiello
Gennaro
G
Galizia
D000230:Adenocarcinoma / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000401:mortality / Q000473:pathology / Q000532:radiotherapy* / Q000601:surgery; D017024:Chemotherapy, Adjuvant; D005240:Feasibility Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009364:Neoplasm Recurrence, Local / Q000453:epidemiology; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D010865:Pilot Projects; D018714:Radiotherapy, Adjuvant; D013274:Stomach Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000401:mortality / Q000473:pathology / Q000532:radiotherapy* / Q000601:surgery; D015996:Survival Rate