title: Modified EOX (Epirubicin, Oxaliplatin and Capecitabine) as palliative first-line chemotherapy for gastroesophageal adenocarcinoma.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The efficacy of triple-drug combination regimens such as epirubicin, oxaliplatin and capecitabine (EOX) is superior to standard cisplatin/5-fluorouracil, but considerable toxicity needs to be taken into account in patients with upper gastrointestinal adenocarcinoma. Therefore, we aimed to establish a modified version of the EOX regimen with improved tolerability for these patients.
  
  
  METHODS
  Patients received palliative first-line chemotherapy with a modified EOX regimen repeated every three weeks (epirubicin 50 mg/m(2) i.v., day 1; oxaliplatin 130 mg/m(2) i.v., day 1; capecitabine at a twice-daily dose of 1000 mg/m(2) p.o. for two weeks).
  
  
  RESULTS
  Out of 51 patients, partial remission was observed in five (10.2%) and stable disease in 31 (60.8%). Progression-free survival was four months, and overall survival twelve months.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Modified EOX was generally well-tolerated and, therefore, further investigation within prospective clinical trials is warranted.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine I, Division of Oncology, Comprehensive Cancer Center Vienna, Medical University of Vienna, Waehringer Guertel 18-20, A-1090 Vienna, Austria.
authors.forename: Ursula
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Pluschnig
authors.forename: Sebastian F
authors.initials: SF
authors.lastname: Schoppmann
authors.forename: Matthias
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Preusser
authors.forename: Philip
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Datler
authors.forename: Reza
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Asari
authors.forename: Ahmed
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Ba-Ssalamah
authors.forename: Katrin
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Schwameis
authors.forename: Peter
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Birner
authors.forename: Johannes
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Zacherl
authors.forename: Michael
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Hejna
mesh_terms: D000230:Adenocarcinoma / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000401:mortality / Q000473:pathology; 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; D015251:Epirubicin / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects; D004943:Esophagogastric Junction; D005260:Female; D005472:Fluorouracil / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000031:analogs & derivatives; D006801:Humans; D008113:Liver Neoplasms / Q000556:secondary; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009944:Organoplatinum Compounds / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects; D000077150:Oxaliplatin; D010166:Palliative Care; D013274:Stomach Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000401:mortality / Q000473:pathology
chemical_list: D009944:Organoplatinum Compounds; D000077150:Oxaliplatin; D003841:Deoxycytidine; D015251:Epirubicin; D000069287:Capecitabine; D005472:Fluorouracil