title: Bimonthly regimen of high-dose leucovorin, infusional 5-fluorouracil, epirubicin and cisplatin (modified ECF) as adjuvant chemotherapy in resected gastric adenocarcinoma.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The administration of the de Gramont regimen in combination with cisplatin and epirubicin (modified ECF) has previously been reported as a treatment for advanced gastric cancer, but here we report this regimen combination in an adjuvant setting for the first time.
  
  
  METHODS
  Forty-eight patients with curatively resected gastric cancer were treated. Each 2-week cycle consisted of epirubicin (50 mg/m(2)), cisplatin (50 mg/m(2)), 5-fluorouracil (5-FU) IV bolus (400 mg/m(2)) and 5-FU IV (2,400 mg/m(2)) over 46 h plus leucovorin IV (400 mg/m(2)) over 2 h. Postoperative chemoradiotherapy was also administered to the patients when indicated. We retrospectively reviewed the patients who were treated with modified ECF.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The median disease-free survival (DFS) was 40.7 months and the 1-, 3- and 5-year DFS rates were 78.5, 55.7 and 44.6%, respectively. The most common grade 3-4 toxicities were hematological and gastrointestinal.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  A modified ECF regimen may be an effective and convenient treatment with tolerable toxicities for the adjuvant treatment of gastric cancer. It may provide an alternative regimen to the standard ECF when a continuous ambulatory infusion pump is not feasible or not preferred by the patient.
authors: Division of Medical Oncology, Department of Internal Medicine, Dokuz Eylul University School of Medicine, Izmir, Turkey. ilkaytugbaunek@gmail.com
authors: Ilkay Tugba
authors: IT
authors: Unek
authors: Tarkan
authors: T
authors: Unek
authors: Ilhan
authors: I
authors: Oztop
authors: Tulay
authors: T
authors: Akman
authors: Koray
authors: K
authors: Atilla
authors: Hulya
authors: H
authors: Ellidokuz
authors: Seymen
authors: S
authors: Bora
authors: Sulen
authors: S
authors: Sarioglu
authors: Ugur
authors: U
authors: Yilmaz
mesh_terms: D000230:Adenocarcinoma / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000401:mortality / Q000601:surgery; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D017024:Chemotherapy, Adjuvant; D002945:Cisplatin / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D018572:Disease-Free Survival; D004334:Drug Administration Schedule; D005260:Female; D005472:Fluorouracil / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D006801:Humans; D002955:Leucovorin / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D012008:Recurrence; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013274:Stomach Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000401:mortality / Q000601:surgery; D015996:Survival Rate
chemical_list: D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; D002945:Cisplatin; D002955:Leucovorin; D005472:Fluorouracil