Published in:
01-07-2010 | Original Paper
Progression-free survival in first-line chemotherapy is a prognostic factor in second-line chemotherapy in patients with advanced gastric cancer
Published in: Journal of Cancer Research and Clinical Oncology | Issue 7/2010
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Purpose
First-line chemotherapy (Cx-1) in advanced gastric cancer (AGC) provides survival benefit. However, it is unclear who should proceed to second-line chemotherapy (Cx-2).
Methods
We reviewed patients who received Cx-2 for AGC following progressive disease after Cx-1 from 2000 to 2005 at the National Cancer Center Hospital, Tokyo. To evaluate the prognostic factors in Cx-2, Cox regression multivariate analysis was performed.
Results
Of 995 patients who received Cx-1 in this study period, 466 met the eligibility criteria. The median progression-free survival in Cx-1 (PFS-1) was 133 days. The median survival time from the date of starting second-line chemotherapy (MST-2) was 207 days. Multivariate analysis revealed that the factors affecting short survival time in Cx-2 were poor performance status (>2), low serum albumin level (<3.5 mg/dL), elevated C-reactive protein level (>1.0 mg/dL), patients with bone, liver or peritoneal metastasis, and patients without previous gastrectomy (p < 0.01). PFS-1 was an independent prognostic factor for survival (PFS-1 <120, MST-2 133 days, PFS-1 >120, MST-2 258 days, hazard ratio 0.71, 95% confidence interval 0.58–0.86, p < 0.01). The Cx-2 regimen (irinotecan vs. taxane) did not correlate with survival.
Conclusion
PFS-1 is one of the prognostic factors of Cx-2 in patients with AGC.