Aims and background: Few studies show what happens outside of randomized clinical trials. The purpose of the study was to describe the clinical management of metastatic gastric cancer patients resident in the Forlì area from 2000 to 2009.
Methods and study design: A total of 270 metastatic gastric cancer patients at diagnosis or relapse were considered. Data from medical records were analysed, and survival probabilities were calculated using the Kaplan-Meier method.
Results: A total of 115 patients received best supportive care, 155 at least one line of chemotherapy, 71 (45.8%) underwent second-line therapy, and 49 (31.6%) required a drug dose reduction during the first cycle of first-line therapy. Twelve (7.7%) patients died within 15 days of finishing the last chemotherapy. Median overall survival with best supportive care or chemotherapy was 3 months (95% CI, 2-4) and 11 months (95% CI, 9-12) (P <0.0001), respectively.
Conclusions: Drug dose reductions and delivery of second-line therapy were common. Chemotherapy given towards the end of life was similar to other experiences. Median overall survival was similar to randomized clinical trials.