Background: Paclitaxel, 5-FU and cisplatin are effective against gastric cancer, but the optimal regimen for combined chemotherapy with these drugs remains unclear. This combination regimen was used here for advanced gastric cancer mainly in a second- or third-line setting.
Patients and methods: Thirty-nine gastric cancer patients were treated with the following regimen. Paclitaxel 40 mg/m2 infusions were administered on days 1 and 8, combined with cisplatin (6.5 mg/m2) and 5-FU (350 mg/m2) on days 1 through 8, followed by 3 weeks' rest.
Results: The response rate was 17.9% (7/39); seven patients had a partial response, twelve had stable disease and twenty had progressive disease. The median overall survival was 8.2 months and the median time to progression was 6.4 months. The frequency of grade 3 or 4 neutropenia, fatigue and anorexia was 7.6%, 5.1% and 7.6%, respectively.
Conclusion: This combination therapy is recommended as second- or third-line therapy against advanced gastric cancer, with a tolerable and acceptable toxicity profile.