Docetaxel and cisplatin combination chemotherapy for advanced gastric cancer failed to 5-fluorouracil-based chemotherapy

Lee, Hyo Rak; Park, Se Hoon; Song, Seo Young; Park, Joon Oh; Lee, Soon Il; Kim, Kihyun; Kim, Won Seog; Jung, Chul Won; Im, Young Hyuck; Lee, Hong Ghi; Park, Keunchil; Park, Chan Hyung; Kang, Won Ki

Abstract

BACKGROUND
There is no effective treatment in patients with advanced gastric cancer failed to first-line chemotherapy. Taxane is one of new drugs identified as having substantial activity in gastric cancer. We performed a phase II trial to evaluate the efficacy and toxicity of docetaxel plus cisplatin regimen as a salvage chemotherapy for advanced gastric cancer failed to 5-fluorouracil (5-FU)-based chemotherapy.
METHODS
Metastatic or recurrent gastric cancer patients failed to 5-FU-based regimen with an Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group (ECOG) performance score < or = 2 were eligible in this trial. Docetaxel (60 mg/m2) was infused over 1 hour, before cisplatin (60 mg/m2) infused over 2 hours on day 1, once every 3 weeks until disease progression or unacceptable toxicity was detected. Response to treatment was assessed every two or three cycles.
RESULTS
From October 1999 to December 2000, forty-one patients were enrolled in this study. Twenty-eight of forty-one patients were assessable for response. Partial response was observed in seven patients and stable disease in four patients. The response rate was 25.0% (95% confidence interval: 20.4~29.6%) and median duration of response was 22 weeks (range: 11~53 weeks). The median survival of all enrolled patients was 24 weeks (range: 7~65 weeks). For a total of 112 cycles of chemotherapy, grade 3 and 4 toxicity was 8.9% for neutropenia, 4.5% for nausea/vomiting and 1.8% for mucositis.
CONCLUSION
Salvage chemotherapy with docetaxel plus cisplatin regimen in gastric cancer was active with acceptable toxicities.