title: Advanced gastric cancer in jordan from 2004 to 2008: a study of epidemiology and outcomes.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  WE REPORT THE EPIDEMIOLOGIC FEATURES AND THE TREATMENT EXPERIENCE OF ADVANCED GASTRIC CANCER (GC) AT KING HUSSEIN CANCER CENTER (KHCC) IN JORDAN, AND WE RETROSPECTIVELY COMPARE OUTCOMES OF TWO DIFFERENT REGIMENS: DCF (docetaxel/cisplatin/5-fluorouracil) vs. ECF (epirubicin/cisplatin/5-fluorouracil).
  
  
  METHODS
  Charts of 162 patients with inoperable GC treated between January 2004 and December 2008 were reviewed. A total 143 patients received chemotherapy (ECF = 113; DCF = 30). Choice of regimen was changed from ECF to DCF on January 2008 according to KHCC guidelines.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The median patient age was 59 years, with a male:female ratio of 1.8:1. Lymph nodes (67.9%) and liver (49.4%) were the most common sites of metastasis. Primary disease site was stomach in 78.4%, gastroesophageal junction in 16.7%, lower esophagus in 4.9%. Poorly differentiated histology was predominant (46.9%). Anemia (53.7%), pain (48.1%), and reflux (44.4%) were the most common presenting symptoms. Helicobacter pylori infection was present in 79%. Average time between initial symptom and diagnosis was 6.0 months. The overall response rate (ORR) was 59.3% with DCF and 32.6% with ECF (P = .01). Time to tumor progression (TTP) was 6.9 months with DCF and 5.9 months with ECF (P = .005). Median survival was 11.0 months with DCF and 10.2 months with ECF (P = .17).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Some epidemiologic features of GC in Jordan mimic those of high-risk areas. Our outcomes of chemotherapy are comparable to internationally reported data and suggest superiority of DCF over ECF in terms of ORR and TTP.
authors.affiliation: Medical Oncology Department King Hussein Cancer Center Amman, Jordan.
authors.forename: Salah Y
authors.initials: SY
authors.lastname: Abbasi
authors.forename: Hani El
authors.initials: HE
authors.lastname: Taani
authors.forename: Adnan
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Saad
authors.forename: Ahmed
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Badheeb
authors.forename: Ala'
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Addasi