Abstract
The aim of this study was to evaluate the efficacy and safety of paclitaxel-based regimens as first-line treatments in advanced gastric cancer. We reviewed 397 previously untreated patients with advanced gastric cancer, who non-randomly received one of three paclitaxel-based regimens: paclitaxel plus fluorouracil/leucovorin (PF), paclitaxel plus oxaliplatin (PO), and paclitaxel plus oxaliplatin plus fluorouracil/leucovorin (POF) between January 2003 and December 2010. The PF, PO, and POF response rates were 47·13, 52·08, and 63·78%, respectively. Overall survivals (OS) were 11·2, 11·7, and 11·7 months, respectively. Progression-free survivals (PFS) were 6·6, 7·2, and 7·1 months, respectively. Leucopenia was higher on the triplet regimen than the doublet regimens. The paclitaxel-based regimens appeared to be effective in patients with advanced gastric cancer. The triplet regimen produced a higher response rate than either doublet regimen with more side effects, while survivals were similar among all three treatments.
Acknowledgements
We thank the statistician Prof. Jingrong Xiao of the Department of Statistics of Fujian Provincial Cancer Hospital for statistical analysis of this study.