Preliminary Report of Semimonthly 5-Fluorouracil/Leucovorin Combined with Paclitaxel in Treatment of Advanced Gastric Cancer(AGC)

BACKGROUND OBJECTIVE: Phase Ⅱclinical trails showed that paclitaxel is effective in treatment of advanced gastric cancer (AGC). The combination of paclitaxel and 5 fluorouracil (5 FU) in the treatment of advanced gastric cancer is effective and safe. This study was designed to evaluate the efficacy and the toxicity of paclitaxel combined with semimonthly 5 FU/Leucovorin for the AGC patients. METHODS: Twenty five measurable patients with AGC proved pathologically were enrolled into this study. The chemotherapy regimen was comprised of paclitaxel,75 mg/m2 i.v. in a 3 hour infusion followed by 2 hour infusion of leucovorin 200 mg/m2, then 10 minute intravenous bolus of 5 FU 375 mg/m2, then 48 hour infusion of 5 FU 2.8 g/m2 using an ambulatory pump. The regimen was given per 14 days. One cycle consisted of twice chemotherapy regimens. All enrolled patients received at least two cycles of treatment. RESULTS: After two cycles of chemotherapy, the complete remission and the partial remission were 8%and 60%, respectively. The median duration of response was 4 months. No treatment related death occurred. Phlebitis,feeling disorder, and alopecia were main side effects. CONCLUSION: Semimonthly 5 FU/LV combined with paclitaxel has high release rate but comparatively mild toxicity for AGC patients.