Multicenter phase II study of weekly paclitaxel plus cisplatin combination chemotherapy in patients with advanced gastric cancer

Abstract

Purpose : Since a weekly administration of paclitaxel has demonstrated a sustained efficacy and more favorable toxicity profile than a 3-weekly administration for various solid tumors, the present study has conducted to evaluate the efficacy and safety of a combination regimen of weekly paclitaxel plus cisplatin in patients with advanced gastric cancer. Patients and methods: Patients with previously untreated metastatic or recurrent, measurable gastric cancer received intravenous paclitaxle 100mg/m2 plus cisplatine 35mg/m2 on days 1 and 8 based on a 3-week cycle. Results : Fifty=-two patients were enrolled in the current study. Two complete responses and 17 partial responses were confirmed, giving an overall response rate of 36.5%, At a median follow-up of 8.5 months, the median time to progression and median overall survival was 6.0 and 10.8 months, respectively. Grade 3 neutropenia occurred in the patients, while no grade 4 neutropenia or febrile neutropenia was observed. The most Common non-hematologic toxicity was nausea(grade 1/2, 56.9%). There were no treatment-related deaths. Conclusion : A weekly paclitaxel and cisplatin combination was found to be well-tolerated and effective in patients with advanced gastric cancer. Accordingly, this regimen can be regarded as an important first-line treatment option for advanced gastric cancer.