title: Docetaxel plus oxaliplatin in combination with capecitabine as first-line treatment for advanced gastric cancer.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  In the present phase II study, we evaluated the efficacy and safety of a docetaxel-oxaliplatin-capecitabine combination as a first-line treatment in patients with advanced gastric cancer.
  
  
  METHODS
  A total of 27 patients (18 males) with histologically confirmed inoperable gastric adenocarcinoma were recruited. Docetaxel was given (50 mg/m(2) i.v.) on day 1 followed by oxaliplatin (75 mg/m(2) i.v.) also on day 1. Capecitabine (2,750 mg/m(2)) was given orally as two daily divided doses from days 1 to 7. Cycles were repeated every 2 weeks. All patients had measurable disease and 18 of them had a performance status (WHO) of 0.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A total of 240 treatment cycles were administered. All patients were evaluable for toxicity. Four patients who discontinued treatment early (having received only 3 chemotherapy cycles) were included as non-responders in an intention-to-treat response analysis. Complete response, partial response, stable disease and progressive disease were observed in 4 (15%), 12 (44%), 3 (11%) and 8 (30%) patients, respectively. The observed response rate was 59%, and the disease control rate (complete response + partial response + stable disease) was 70%. At the time of analysis, 6 patients were still alive and the median survival was 18.0 months. The most common grade III/IV toxicities observed were neutropenia (5%), diarrhea (2%), palmar-plantar erythrodysesthesia (2%) and neurotoxicity (1%). All other toxicities were mostly of grade I/II and easily manageable.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The combination of docetaxel, oxaliplatin and capecitabine in the described mode of administration represents a relatively active and well-tolerated regimen in patients with advanced gastric cancer and warrants further evaluation.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical Oncology, University General Hospital of Alexandroupolis, Alexandroupolis, Greece. amarantk@otenet.gr
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Amarantidis
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Xenidis
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Chelis
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Chamalidou
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Dimopoulos
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Michailidis
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Tentes
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Deftereos
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Karanikas
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Karayiannakis
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Kakolyris
mesh_terms: D000230:Adenocarcinoma / Q000188:drug therapy*; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000971:Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000069287:Capecitabine; D003841:Deoxycytidine / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000031:analogs & derivatives; D018572:Disease-Free Survival; D000077143:Docetaxel; D004334:Drug Administration Schedule; D005472:Fluorouracil / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000031:analogs & derivatives; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009503:Neutropenia / Q000139:chemically induced; D009944:Organoplatinum Compounds / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects; D000077150:Oxaliplatin; D010292:Paresthesia / Q000139:chemically induced; D013274:Stomach Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy*; D043823:Taxoids / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects; D013921:Thrombocytopenia / Q000139:chemically induced; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D009944:Organoplatinum Compounds; D043823:Taxoids; D000077150:Oxaliplatin; D003841:Deoxycytidine; D000077143:Docetaxel; D000069287:Capecitabine; D005472:Fluorouracil