5-Fluorouracil, methotrexate, leucovorin, CDDP and epirubicin (FEPMTX): a wide-spectrum regimen of salvage chemotherapy for high-grade advanced gastric cancer.

Abstract

BACKGROUND/AIMS:

Twenty-one patients with primary stage IV gastric cancer were treated with a wide-spectrum regimen, designated as FEPMTX therapy to establish an effective salvage chemotherapy.

METHODOLOGY:

FEPMTX therapy consisted of 5-fluorouracil and the triple biochemical modulators in addition to epirubicin. The schedule comprised 3 days continuous administration of 5-fluorouracil (350 mg/m2/day) and; methotrexate (MTX; 35 mg/m2) on day 1, calcium leucovorin (LV; 30 mg/m2) on day 2 and 3, cisplatin (CDDP; 30 mg/m2) and epirubicin (20 mg/m2) on day 3 every 2 weeks in principle.

RESULTS:

Eleven partial responses, five no changes and five progressive diseases were obtained, and the response rate was 52%. Ten patients (partial response 7, no change 2, progressive disease 1) received gastrectomy (resectability rate 48%). The survival of responders was significantly longer than that of non-responders (median survival time, 356 days vs. 152 days) while there was no significant prolongation by resection of the primary lesion. Adverse effects such as myelosuppression, anorexia and fatigue sometimes occurred, but were mild and the regimen was well tolerated by all the patients.

CONCLUSIONS:

FEPMTX is thought to be an effective regimen for neoadjuvant chemotherapy with longer survival and little toxicity for patients with high-grade advanced gastric cancer.

• Authors: Kazuo Kinoshita, Yutaka Yonemura, Toshiharu Sawa, Tatsukazu Miyata, Hiroshi Sakuma, Nobuo Matsuki, Sigehiro Tanaka, Sachio Fushida, Takashi Fujimura, Young Jai Mok, Byung Sik Kim, Jong In Lee, Dong Wook Choi, Young Jin Song, Doo Hyun Yang, Sung Joon Kwon, Motohiro Tanaka, Itsuo Miyazaki
• Journal: Hepato-gastroenterology (Hepatogastroenterology) 2003 Sep-Oct Vol. 50 Issue 53 Pg. 1716-9 ISSN: 0172-6390 [Print] Greece
• PMID: 14571825 (Publication Type: Journal Article)

Chemical References

• Epirubicin
• Cisplatin
• Leucovorin
• Fluorouracil
• Methotrexate

Topics

• Adult
• Aged
• Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols (therapeutic use)
• Chemotherapy, Adjuvant
• Cisplatin (administration & dosage)
• Epirubicin (administration & dosage)
• Female
• Fluorouracil (administration & dosage)
• Gastrectomy
• Humans
• Leucovorin (administration & dosage)
• Male
• Methotrexate (administration & dosage)
• Middle Aged
• Salvage Therapy
• Stomach Neoplasms (drug therapy, mortality, surgery)
• Survival Analysis