A Phase II Study of 5-Fluorouracil/Leucovorin in Combination with Paclitaxel and Oxaliplatin as First-Line Treatment for Patients with Advanced Gastric Cancer

Abstract

The objective of this study was to evaluate the efficacy and safety of the POF regimen (biweekly 5-florouracil/leucovorin combined with paclitaxel and oxaliplatin) as first-line treatment for advanced gastric cancer (AGC). Twenty-seven previously untreated patients with advanced adenocarcinoma of the gastric or gastroesophageal junction were eligible for this study. The chemotherapy regimen consisted of a 3-hour infusion of paclitaxel (135 mg/m²) followed by oxaliplatin (85 mg/m²) and leucovorin (400 mg/m²), administered simultaneously over a 2-hour infusion period, followed by an infusion of 5-florouracil (2400 mg/m²) over a 46-hour period. Twenty-one patients had measurable lesions: four complete responses, eight partial responses and seven stable diseases. At a median follow-up of 610 days, median survival was 348 days. Frequent grade 3 to 4 toxicities were: neutropenia (29.6%), stomatitis (7.4%), nausea (7.4%), vomiting (7.4%), hepatic dysfunction (3.7%), and fatigue (18.5%). No treatment- related deaths occurred. The POF regimen appears to be efficacious and is well tolerated in patients with AGC.

Keywords:

• Gastric cancer
• paclitaxel
• oxaliplatin
• 5-fluorouracil
• leucovorin
• chemotherapy