Docetaxel combined with cisplatin and fluorouracil in the treatment of advanced gastric cancer / 中国癌症杂志

ABSTRACT

Background and purpose:Gastric cancer is one of the leading causes of cancer death throughout the world.When compared with optimal supportive care alone,combination chemotherapy yields a significant advantage in the management of advanced gastric cancer.However,no single regimen has emerged or been accepted as being clearly superior over another.Here we investigated the efficacy and safety of "docetaxel+ cisplatin + fluorouracil" 5-day combination chemotherapy as treatment in patients with advanced gastric cancer.Methods:Between 2004 January and 2005 July,we enrolled 30 patients [males 22,median age 53 years(range 28-72)] with advanced gastric cancer.The regimen consisted of docetaxel 75 mg/m~(2) on day 1,cisplatin 15 mg/ m~(2) on days 1-5,and fluorouracil 500 mg/ m~(2) on days 1-5,every 3 weeks.All patients received over two cycles of this regimen.Results:A total of 99 cycles were administered.Mean cycle number per patient was 3.3.The administered dose intensity of docetaxel was 23.5 mg/m~(2)/week,fluorouracil 735 mg/ m~(2)/week and cisplatin 14.7 mg/ m~(2)/week,which corresponded to 94%,97.5% and 92.3% of planned doses.Of these patients,16(53.3%) achieved a partial response,8(26.6%) stable disease,and 6 patients(20%) showed progressive disease.The median time to progression was 5.1 months.(95% CI 4.1-6.0 months).Median overall survival was 9.9 months.(95% CI 8.1-11.6 months).Leukopenia occurred during 36.7% of cycles(36 of 99 cycles);18.2% grade Ⅰ,10.1% grade Ⅱ,5.0% grade Ⅲ and 3.0% grade Ⅳ.Anemia occurred in 12.1%(12 of 99 cycles);7.1% grade Ⅰ and 5.0% grade Ⅱ.Thrombocytopenia was 15.2%(15 of 99 cycles) and all were grade Ⅰ or Ⅱ.Diarrhea,stomatitis and hypersensitivity occurred in 16.7%(5 out of 30 patients),respectively.Neutropenic fever occurred in two patients(6.7%) and myalgia in nine(30%).Conclusions:Docetaxel combined with fluorouracil and cisplatin is an active and tolerable regimen for the treatment of patients with advanced gastric cancer.