Japanese Journal of Clinical Oncology Advance Access originally published online on July 15, 2008
Japanese Journal of Clinical Oncology 2008 38(8):540-546; doi:10.1093/jjco/hyn062
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© The Author (2008). Published by Oxford University Press. All rights reserved
A Phase I Study of Bolus 5-Fluorouracil and Leucovorin Combined with Weekly Paclitaxel (FLTAX) as First-line Therapy for Advanced Gastric Cancer
Gastrointestinal Oncology Division, National Cancer Center Hospital, Tokyo, Japan
For reprints and all correspondence: Junichi Matsubara, 5-1-1 Tsukiji, Chuo-ku, Tokyo 1040045, Japan. E-mail: junjun0808{at}hotmail.com
Received May 10, 2008; accepted June 20, 2008
Objective: To determine the dose-limiting toxicity (DLT) and the maximum-tolerated dose (MTD) of combination chemotherapy with leucovorin-modulated weekly bolus 5-fluorouracil (5-FU) and weekly paclitaxel in patients with advanced gastric cancer (GC).
Methods: Chemotherapy-naïve patients with histologically proven metastatic or recurrent GC were enrolled. Paclitaxel was administered as a 1-h intravenous (i.v.) infusion followed by 5-FU as a bolus i.v. infusion on Days 1, 8 and 15. A 2-h i.v. infusion of l-leucovorin was started at the same time as the paclitaxel infusion on Days 1, 8 and 15. Treatment cycles were repeated every 28 days until disease progression or unacceptable toxicity occurred. Patients were scheduled to receive 5-FU, l-leucovorin and paclitaxel at four dose levels (mg/m2/week): 500/250/60 (level 1), 500/250/80 (level 2), 600/250/80 (level 3) and 600/250/100 (level 4), respectively.
Results: Eighteen patients were enrolled. During the first cycle of the highest dose level (level 4), two of the six patients had DLT involving Grade 3 diarrhea and Grade 3 skin rash. Furthermore, three of the four patients who received the second consecutive cycle of treatment at dose level 4 had Grade 4 neutropenia. Dose level 3 was thus determined to be the MTD. Eleven (61%) of the 18 patients had partial responses, and the median progression-free survival time was 6.8 months.
Conclusions: The MTD and the recommended dose for phase II studies of this regimen were determined to be 5-FU 600 mg/m2/week, l-leucovorin 250 mg/m2/week and paclitaxel 80 mg/m2/week.
Key Words: gastric cancer chemotherapy weekly paclitaxel bolus 5-fluorouracil leucovorin