Published in:
01-05-2013 | Original Article
Phase II trial of paclitaxel and cisplatin as neoadjuvant chemotherapy for locally advanced gastric cancer
Published in: Cancer Chemotherapy and Pharmacology | Issue 5/2013
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Purpose
Paclitaxel–cisplatin (TC) combination is effective and well tolerated in patients with unresectable gastric cancer. We investigated the efficacy and safety of TC for locally advanced gastric cancers in a neoadjuvant setting.
Methods
Patients received 2–4 courses of paclitaxel (80 mg/m2) and cisplatin (25 mg/m2) on days 1, 8, and 15 in a 4-weekly schedule, followed by radical gastrectomy. Primary endpoint was the pathological response rate: percentage of tumors in which one-third or more parts were affected.
Results
All 52 patients enrolled were eligible. Thirty-six (69.7 %) patients completed two or more courses of chemotherapy. Forty-three patients (82.7 %) underwent surgery, 33 (63.5 %) had R0 resection, and there was no treatment-related death. The pathological response was 34.6 % (95 % CI 22.0–49.1) for all registered patients; the null hypothesis of tumor response ≤10 % was rejected (p < 0.0001). The 3-year overall survival was 41.5 % (95 % CI 27.4–55.0).
Conclusions
The neoadjuvant chemotherapy with TC was safe and effective for patients with locally advanced gastric cancer, and further study is needed to confirm the effectiveness of this regimen.