title: Efficacy and safety of docetaxel or epirubicin, combined with cisplatin and fluorouracil (DCF and ECF), regimens as first line chemotherapy for advanced gastric cancer: a retrospective analysis from Turkey.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Advanced gastric cancer (AGC) patients have a poor prognosis. The best benefit of chemotherapy is usually achieved by first line setting. Very few studies have compared combination regimens. This study was designed to compare two combination regimens.
  
  
  METHODS
  Patients with advanced gastric cancer receiving first line chemotherapy were retrospectively collected, and divided into two groups, receiving DCF (docetaxel, cisplatin and fluorouracil) or ECF (epirubicin, cisplatin and fluorouracil) regimens. Data were collected for the retrospective analysis in a single center.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Eighty-six patients were eligible for analysis. Median overall survival (OS) was 10.0 months in the ECF group and 11.0 months in the DCF group (p=0.31). Median progression free survival (PFS) for ECF and DCF was equal at 6.0 months. Second line chemotherapy were administered in more than one third of patients. Both regimens had similar toxicity.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This is the first study investigating the outcomes of gastric cancer chemotherapy in this region. ECF and DCF regimens have similar efficacy and a similar tolerability profile for first line treatment of advanced gastric cancer. The decision of the first line chemotherapy in advanced gastric cancer could be improved with patient selection according to clinical parameters and molecular markers.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical Oncology, Medical School, 19 Mayis University, Samsun, Turkey E-mail : fthtkr@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Fatih
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Teker
authors.forename: Bahiddin
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Yilmaz
authors.forename: Yasemin
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Kemal
authors.forename: Engin
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Kut
authors.forename: Idris
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Yucel
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000971:Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use; D002945:Cisplatin / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D018572:Disease-Free Survival; D000077143:Docetaxel; D015251:Epirubicin / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D005260:Female; D005472:Fluorouracil / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013274:Stomach Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy*; D015996:Survival Rate; D043823:Taxoids / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014421:Turkey
chemical_list: D043823:Taxoids; D000077143:Docetaxel; D015251:Epirubicin; D002945:Cisplatin; D005472:Fluorouracil