An early phase II study of oral S-1, a newly developed 5-fluorouracil derivative for advanced and recurrent gastrointestinal cancers. The S-1 Gastrointestinal Cancer Study Group

Lineage of drug discovery research on fluorinated pyrimidines: chronicle of the achievements accomplished by Professor Setsuro Fujii

Prof. Setsuro Fujii achieved significant results in the field of drug discovery research in Japan. He developed nine well-known drugs: FT, UFT, S-1 and FTD/TPI are anticancer drugs, while cetraxate hydrochloride, camostat mesilate, nafamostat mesilate, gabexate mesilate and pravastatin sodium are therapeutic drugs for various other diseases. He delivered hope to patients with various diseases across the world to improve their condition. Even now, drug discovery research based on Dr. Fujii's ideas is continuing.

Phase I study of DFP-11207, a novel oral fluoropyrimidine with reasonable AUC and low Cmax and improved tolerability, in patients with solid tumors

5-fluorouracil (5-FU) and 5-FU derivatives, such as capecitabine, UFT, and S-1, are the mainstay of chemotherapy treatment for gastrointestinal cancers, and other solid tumors. Compared with other cytotoxic chemotherapies, these drugs generally have a favorable safety profile, but hematologic and gastrointestinal toxicities remain common. DFP-11207 is a novel oral cytotoxic agent that combines a 5-FU pro-drug with a reversible DPD inhibitor and a potent inhibitor of OPRT, resulting in enhanced pharmacological activity of 5-FU with decreased gastrointestinal and myelosuppressive toxicities. In this Phase I study (NCT02171221), DFP-11207 was administered orally daily, in doses escalating from 40 mg/m2/day to 400 mg/m2/day in patients with esophageal, colorectal, gastric, pancreatic or gallbladder cancer (n = 23). It was determined that DFP-11207 at the dose of 330 mg/m2/day administered every 12 hours was well-tolerated with mild myelosuppressive and gastrointestinal toxicities. The pharmacokinetic analysis determined that the 5-FU levels were in the therapeutic range at this dose. In addition, fasted or fed states had no influence on the 5-FU levels (patients serving as their own controls). Among 21 efficacy evaluable patients, 7 patients had stable disease (33.3%), of which two had prolonged stable disease of >6 months duration. DFP-11207 can be explored as monotherapy or easily substitute 5-FU, capecitabine, or S-1 in combination regimens.

Phase II trial of preoperative sequential chemotherapy followed by chemoradiotherapy for high-risk gastric cancer

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

To evaluate the safety and efficacy of preoperative chemotherapy (CTx) followed by chemoradiotherapy (CCRT) for high-risk gastric cancer (GC).

METHODS AND MATERIALS

The inclusion criteria were as follows: (1) Borrmann type 4; (2) large Borrmann type 3 (≥8 cm); (3) single bulky (≥3 cm × 1) or multiple lymph nodes (≥1.5 cm × 3). Patients received two 21-day courses of induction CTx of TS-1 (35 mg/m², p.o, twice daily on days 1-14), docetaxel (30 mg/m², i.v., days 1 and 8), and cisplatin (30 mg/m², i.v., days 1 and 8) followed by CCRT (two courses of TS-1 and cisplatin in combination with 45 Gy radiation).

RESULTS

Forty-two patients were enrolled between March 2014 and February 2016, and 39 of these completed sequential CTx and CCRT. Among the 33 patients who underwent R0 resection, the pathologic response rate was 39.4% [no residual carcinoma (n = 5, 15.2%), with 1-10% residual carcinoma (n = 8, 24.2%)]. Overall, 4 patients (12.1%) were pathologic stage 0, 7 (21.2%) were stage I, 10 (30.3%) were stage II, and 12 (36.4%) were stage III. The overall survival rate at 3 years was 77.9% for stages 0 and I, 66.8% for stages II-III, and 33.3% for unresectable cases (P = 0.001). Toxicity was mild to moderate with grade 4 neutropenia (n = 1) and neutropenic fever (n = 1) as the most prominent side-effects.

CONCLUSIONS

Sequential CTx and CCRT prior to surgery are feasible and effective for high-risk GC.

TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER

NCT02495493.

The optimal neoadjuvant treatment of locally advanced esophageal cancer

Esophagectomy is the cornerstone of intentionally curative treatment in patients with locally advanced esophageal cancer. Neoadjuvant treatments have been introduced to minimize the risk of development of locoregional- and/or distant recurrences. Chemotherapy is used based on the results of the MAGIC- and the OEO2-trials and chemoradiotherapy became part of standard treatment after the publication of the CROSS-trial. Although several studies have compared the efficacy of neoadjuvant chemotherapy and chemoradiotherapy, no robust evidence on the optimal neoadjuvant treatment has been obtained as yet. Several studies indirectly comparing both modalities suggest a benefit for chemoradiotherapy in the number of pathologically complete responders, radical resection rate and possibly even in overall survival. Large randomized controlled trials like the Neo-AEGIS-, ESOPEC- and NeXT-trials are currently addressing this topic. A relatively new aspect of esophageal cancer treatment is the administration of monoclonal antibodies. Several monoclonal antibodies have been tested in, mostly, advanced esophageal cancer treatment. Cetuximab has also been tested as addition to neoadjuvant- and definitive treatment in patients with locally advanced esophageal cancer, showing mixed results. This review aims at providing an overview of the currently available neoadjuvant treatments in esophageal cancer.

Elevated neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio is associated with nutritional impairment, immune suppression, resistance to S-1 plus cisplatin, and poor prognosis in patients with stage IV gastric cancer

Gastric cancer continues to be a major cause of morbidity and mortality worldwide. Recently, there has been a growing interest in the host inflammatory response and there is increasing evidence that the neutrophil to lymphocyte ratio (NLR), which is a useful marker of systemic inflammation, can be an effective prognostic indicator in various types of malignant diseases. A total of 110 patients with stage IV gastric cancer who received chemotherapy of S-1 plus cisplatin were enrolled in this study. Eleven patients did not complete four cycles of the chemotherapy. The patients were divided into two groups with 3.0 of NLR. The percentage of patients with a partial response to chemotherapy was significantly higher in the group of patients with a lower NLR (<3) (19.1 vs. 38.5%, high vs. low NLR group, respectively; P<0.05). The percentage of patients with progressive disease was higher in the high vs. low NLR group (57.4 vs. 25.0%, respectively; P<0.05). NLR levels were significantly inversely correlated with serum levels of prealbumin (P<0.01) and retinol binding protein (P<0.05). NLR levels were also significantly correlated with c-reactive protein levels (P<0.05), white blood cell count (P<0.05) and inversely with the stimulation index (a marker of cell-mediated immune function; P<0.05). Overall survival was significantly longer in patients with a lower NLR (≤ 3.0) than in those with a higher NLR (>3.0). The present study demonstrated that the NLR is a useful marker for resistance to chemotherapy, malnutrition, systemic inflammation and immune suppression. Moreover, the NLR was demonstrated to be a strong prognostic indicator in these patients.

Effect of Sipjeondaebo-Tang on the Pharmacokinetics of S-1, an Anticancer Agent, in Rats Evaluated by Population Pharmacokinetic Modeling

S-1 (TS-1^®) is an oral fluoropyrimidine anticancer agent containing tegafur, oteracil, and gimeracil. Sipjeondaebo-tang (SDT) is a traditional oriental herbal medicine that has potential to alleviate chemotherapy-related adverse effects. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the effect of SDT on the pharmacokinetics of S-1. Sprague-Dawley rats were pretreated with a single dose or repeated doses of SDT for seven consecutive days (1200 mg/kg/day). After the completion of pretreatment with SDT, S-1 was orally administered and plasma concentrations of tegafur, its active metabolite 5-FU, and gimeracil were determined by liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC/MS/MS). A population pharmacokinetic model was developed to evaluate the effect of SDT on pharmacokinetics of tegafur and 5-FU. Although a single dose of SDT did not have any significant effect, the absorption rate of tegafur decreased, and the plasma levels of 5-FU reduced significantly in rats pretreated with SDT for seven days in parallel to the decreased gimeracil concentrations. Population pharmacokinetic modeling also showed the enhanced elimination of 5-FU in the SDT-pretreated group. Repeated doses of SDT may inhibit the absorption of gimeracil, an inhibitor of 5-FU metabolism, resulting in enhanced elimination of 5-FU and decrease its plasma level.

Randomized phase II study of daily and alternate-day administration of S-1 for advanced gastric cancer (JFMC43-1003)

Purpose

Although S-1 based chemotherapy for patients with advanced gastric cancer has generally been accepted in Japan, discontinuations of treatment have been reported due to grade 3 or more adverse events. The present randomized phase II study was conducted to test whether alternate-day administration of S-1 would be comparably efficient and reduce adverse events compared with conventional daily administration in the first-line chemotherapy for advanced gastric cancer.

Methods

132 patients with advanced gastric cancer were randomly assigned to 1:2 ratios to receive treatment with daily at a standard dose of 80 mg/m²/day or alternate-day administration group received S-1 on 4 days a week. The primary end point was progression-free survival (PFS), and the secondary end points were safety, overall survival, time to treatment failure (TTF), disease control rate, and response rate.

Results

The 6-month PFS rate of the alternate-day administration group was 20.9% and failed to show significant difference from the pre-specified threshold at 15% (p = 0.117), whereas that of the daily administration group was 39.1% and significantly higher than the threshold (p = 0.001). The hazard ratio of the alternate-day administration group compared with the daily administration group was 1.753 (95% confidence interval (CI) 1.15–2.68, p = 0.010). With regard to OS, the hazard ratio of the alternate-day administration group compared with the daily administration group was 1.487 (95% CI 0.97–2.29, p = 0.072). The median TTF were 4.2 and 2.8 months in the daily and alternate-day administration group, respectively (p = 0.007).

Conclusion

The alternate-day administration of S-1 was not recommended as the first-line therapy for patients with advanced gastric cancer.

Development of new promising antimetabolite, DFP-11207 with self-controlled toxicity in rodents

To reduce 5-fluorouracil (5-FU)-induced serious toxicities without loss of antitumor activity, we have developed DFP-11207, a novel fluoropyrimidine, which consists of 1-ethoxymethyl-5-fluorouracil (EM-FU; a precursor form of 5-FU), 5-chloro-2,4-dihydroxypyridine (CDHP; an inhibitor of 5-FU degradation), and citrazinic acid (CTA; an inhibitor of 5-FU phosphorylation). In vitro studies of DFP-11207 indicated that it strongly inhibited the degradation of 5-FU by dihydropyrimidine dehydrogenase (DPD) in homogenates of the rat liver, and also inhibited the phosphorylation of 5-FU by orotate phosphoribosyltransferase (OPRT) in tumor tissues in a similar magnitude of potency by CDHP and CTA, respectively. Especially, DFP-11207 inhibited the intracellular phosphorylation of 5-FU in tumor cells in a dose-dependent manner whereas CTA alone did not protect intracellular 5-FU phosphorylation. These results postulate that DFP-11207 rapidly entered into the cell and the free CTA produced from DFP-11207 inhibited the phosphorylation of 5-FU in the cell. Furthermore, following oral administration of DFP-11207, CTA was found to be highly retained in the gastrointestinal (GI) tract compared to other tissues in rats. Interestingly, EM-FU, the prodrug of 5-FU was found to specifically produce 5-FU by various species of liver microsomes. When DFP-11207 was administered to rats, the plasma level of 5-FU was persisted for a long-time with lower C_max and longer half-life than that from other 5-FU prodrugs. The antitumor activity of DFP-11207 was evaluated in human tumor xenografts in nude rats and found that DFP-11207 showed an antitumor activity in a dose-dependent fashion and its efficacy is equivalent to reference 5-FU drugs. In striking contrast, DFP-11207 manifested no or less 5-FU-related toxicities, such as a decrease in body weights, GI injury, and myelosuppression, especially thrombocytopenia. Taken together, the preclinical evaluation of DFP-11207 strongly indicates that DFP-11207 be a potential new version of the oral fluoropyrimidine prodrug for further clinical development.

Duodenal Bulb Adenocarcinoma Benefitted from Neoadjuvant Chemotherapy: A Case Report

Duodenal bulb adenocarcinoma is an extremely rare malignancy in the alimentary tract which has a low incidence rate and nonspecific symptoms. It is difficult to diagnose early, and the misdiagnosis rate is high. CT, MRI, upper gastrointestinal endoscopy, and other advanced imaging modalities should be combined to make a comprehensive evaluation. The diagnostic confirmation of this tumor type mainly depends on the pathological examination. The combination of surgery with other treatment modalities is effective. A review of reports on duodenal bulb adenocarcinoma with chemotherapy revealed 6 cases since 1990. However, there are few reports on neoadjuvant chemotherapy for the disease. In this report, preoperative S-1 in combination with oxaliplatin neoadjuvant chemotherapy achieved a complete pathological response in the treatment of duodenal bulb adenocarcinoma. Neoadjuvant chemotherapy shows a better clinical efficacy in the treatment of duodenal bulb adenocarcinoma, but its value needs to be further verified.

Unexpected Side Effects of a High S-1 Dose: Subanalysis of a Phase III Trial Comparing Gemcitabine, S-1 and Combinatorial Treatments for Advanced Pancreatic Cancer

OBJECTIVE

In this subanalysis of a phase III trial using three categorized doses of S-1, the influence of the actual doses on safety and efficacy was evaluated.

METHODS

We compared the efficacy and safety of the S-1 or gemcitabine plus S-1 combination (GS) arm between the top 10% group and the bottom 10% group according to the initial doses of S-1: ≥77.6 versus ≤65.9 mg/m2/day (n = 28 vs. 28) in the S-1 arm, and ≥65.1 versus ≤53.8 mg/m2/day (n = 27 vs. 28) in the GS arm.

RESULTS

Overall and progression-free survival were not significantly different between these two groups: hazard ratios of 0.818 and 0.761 with p values of 0.498 and 0.330 in the S-1 arm, and hazard ratios of 0.836 and 0.759 with p values of 0.557 and 0.323 in the GS arm, respectively. Incidences of grade 3-4 hematological toxicities were significantly higher in the top 10% group than in the bottom 10% group: 42.9 versus 14.3 and 85.2 versus 57.1%, with p values of 0.037 and 0.037 in the S-1 and the GS combination arm, respectively.

CONCLUSIONS

Higher actual doses of S-1 were associated with a higher incidence of hematological toxicity even in the same dose setting.

Feasibility of oral administration of S-1 as adjuvant chemotherapy in gastric cancer: 4-week S-1 administration followed by 2-week rest vs. 2-week administration followed by 1-week rest

In 2006, the Adjuvant Chemotherapy Trial of S-1 for Gastric Cancer (ACTS-GC) demonstrated that S-1 is an effective adjuvant therapy for gastric cancer. Following that study, S-1 has been used as the standard adjuvant therapy for gastric cancer in Japan. However, the 1-year completion rate was only 65.8% in the ACTS-GC study and feasibility remains a critical issue. We conducted a study to evaluate the feasibility of 2 weekly administration regimens of S-1 as adjuvant chemotherapy in gastric cancer. The criteria for eligibility included histologically proven stage II (excluding T1), IIIA or IIIB gastric cancer with D2 lymph-node dissection. The patients were randomly assigned to either arm A (S-1 administration for 4 weeks followed by 2 weeks of rest) or arm B (S-1 administration for 2 weeks followed by 1 week of rest). In each arm, treatment was continued for 12 months unless recurrence or severe adverse events were observed. The primary endpoint was feasibility (protocol treatment completion rate). The secondary endpoints were safety, relapse-free survival and overall survival. A total of 47 patients were assigned to arms A or B between May, 2008 and February, 2010. During the first interim analysis, the protocol treatment completion rates in arms A and B were 83 and 100%, respectively at 6 months and 49 and 89%, respectively, at 12 months (P=0.0046). Therefore, S-1 administration for 2 weeks followed by 1 week rest was more feasible as adjuvant chemotherapy in gastric cancer. Grade 3 adverse events in arm A included fatigue (8.0%), anorexia (8.0%), nausea (4.0%), vomiting (4.0%) and hand-foot syndrome (4.0%), whereas none were observed in arm B. There were no reported grade 4 adverse events in either arm. In conclusion, the 2-week S-1 administration followed by 1-week rest regimen appears to be a more feasible oral administration regimen for S-1 as adjuvant chemotherapy in gastric cancer.

Efficacy of S-1 and oxaliplatin as neoadjuvant chemotherapy for advanced gastric cancer

AIM: To evaluate the efficacy and safety of S-1 combined with oxaliplatin (SOX) in the treatment of advanced gastric cancer.

METHODS: Preoperative stage Ⅱ/Ⅲ gastric cancer patients received S-1 [80 mg/(m2·d); days 1-14] and SOX (130 mg/m2; day 1) followed by a 7 d rest during the 3 wk schedule and subsequently received gastrectomy with D1/D2 lymphadenectomy.

RESULTS: Between June 2012 and September 2013, 117 patients were enrolled in this study. All patients were assessed for efficacy and adverse events, and 57 (69.5%) patients had clinical tumor response. The response and disease control rates were 69.5 % and 97.6%, respectively. Main grade 3/4 adverse events were hematological toxicities, including thrombocytopenia (5.4%) and leucopenia (5.4%). Grade 3/4 non-hematological events included liver dysfunction (8.1%), loss of appetite (5.4%) and vomiting (10.8%).

CONCLUSION: S-1 plus SOX provided a favorable efficacy and safety profile in Chinese patients with advanced gastric cancer.

Phase II clinical trial of metronomic chemotherapy with combined irinotecan and tegafur-gimeracil-oteracil potassium in metastatic and recurrent breast cancer

BACKGROUND

We investigated the efficacy and safety of metronomic chemotherapy with combined irinotecan and tegafur-gimeracil-oteracil potassium (TS-1) in patients with metastatic and recurrent breast cancer (MRBC), and the association between irinotecan metabolizing enzyme UDP-glucuronosyltransferase 1A1 (UGT1A1) gene polymorphisms and adverse events.

METHODS

The study group comprised 40 patients aged 35-79 years. Irinotecan (60 mg/m(2) in 5 % dextrose) was administered by 120-min infusion on days 1, 8, and 15 every 4 weeks. TS-1 (prescribed in a standard quantity) was administered at 80 mg/m(2)/day orally on days 3-7, 10-14, and 17-21 every 4 weeks.

RESULTS

Tumor response data were available for 34 patients. Median follow-up was 12 months (range 1-45 months). Response rate was 47 % (one complete and 15 partial responses). Stable disease was observed in 17 patients (50 %). One patient had disease progression (3 %). Median progression-free survival was 14 months [95 % confidence interval (CI), 10-26]. Median overall survival was 26 months (95 % CI not calculable owing to sample size), and 79.3 % of patients survived for 1 year. The most common grade 3 or 4 adverse events were neutropenia (15 %), leukopenia (12.5 %), diarrhea (7.5 %), and anemia (2.5 %). All other adverse events were grade 1 or 2. Treatment-related toxicity was generally modest and manageable. No significant correlation was observed between UGT1A1 polymorphisms and hematological or non-hematological toxicities.

CONCLUSIONS

Metronomic chemotherapy with combined irinotecan and TS-1 was effective in MRBC patients. Adverse effects were mild and the regimen was safely administered without identifying UGT1A1 polymorphisms.

Long-term survival of a patient with invasive signet-ring cell carcinoma of the urinary bladder managed by combined s-1 and Cisplatin adjuvant chemotherapy

Primary signet-ring cell carcinoma of the urinary bladder is extremely rare and patient survival is very poor. The disease usually presents at advanced stages because the cancer progresses rapidly. The only option for effective treatment is radical cystectomy, and no effective chemotherapy has been established for this variant. We report a case of signet-ring cell carcinoma of the urinary bladder with a long-term survival of 90 months owing to radical cystectomy and combination adjuvant chemotherapy with S-1 and cisplatin. To our knowledge, this is the first report to demonstrate the long-term therapeutic activity of combination S-1 and cisplatin adjuvant chemotherapy against invasive signet-ring cell carcinoma of the urinary bladder.

Pharmaceutical care for patients undergoing s-1 plus Cisplatin therapy for unresectable recurrent gastric cancer

We examined the adverse gastrointestinal events associated with tegafur/gimeracil/oteracil potassium (S-1) plus cisplatin therapy for unresectable recurrent gastric cancer and risk factors for discontinuing therapy due to adverse events. A total of 65 subjects who had received S-1 plus cisplatin therapy for gastric cancer at Ogaki Municipal Hospital were examined. We found that the risk factors for discontinuation of the therapy due to adverse events were serum albumin (Alb) level less than 3.5 g/dL (odds ratio [OR]: 321.14, P = .0015), creatinine clearance (CrCl) rate less than 78 mL/min (OR: 35.23, P = .0123), and performance status (PS) more than 1 (OR:12.62, P = .0243). Moreover, grade 3 or 4 nonhematological toxicities (including malaise and anorexia) were significantly higher in subjects with Alb less than 3.5 g/dL and CrCl less than 78 mL/min (P < .01). In conclusion, we should pay attention to the safety and continuity of S-1 plus cisplatin therapy in cases where the Alb level is <3.5 g/dL, CrCl level is <78 mL/min, and PS level is >1. Pharmacists should consider reducing the treatment dosage and providing nutritional support in such cases.

Evaluation of prognostic factors for the response to S-1 in patients with stage II or III advanced gastric cancer who underwent gastrectomy

OBJECTIVES

Many studies have reported that low intratumoral mRNA expression of thymidylate synthase (TS) is an important biomarker of response to chemotherapy in patients with unresectable advanced gastric cancer. However, the role of gene expression profile of patients who received postoperative adjuvant chemotherapy remains unclear. In this study, we evaluated how TS and other associated genes related to outcome.

METHODS

Seventy-nine patients with stage II or III advanced gastric cancer who underwent gastrectomy were analyzed. Thirty-nine patients received adjuvant chemotherapy with S-1 after surgery (S-1 group) and 40 patients underwent surgery only (surgery group). Formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded tumor tissues were dissected by the laser-captured microdissection technique and analyzed for target gene expressions using a quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction.

RESULTS

There were no significant differences between the S-1 group and the surgery group in gene expressions except TS (P=0.034). In the S-1 group, recurrence-free survival (RFS) and overall survival (OS) were significantly longer in patients with low TS expression compared with patients with high TS expression (P=0.021 and 0.016), whereas there were no correlations in the surgery group. Furthermore, RFS and OS were both correlated with extent of lymph node metastasis (N) (P=0.038 and 0.020) and TS expression (P=0.021 and 0.032). On multivariate analysis it was found that TS expression and N were significant independent prognostic factors of RFS and OS (TS: P=0.027 and 0.050, N: P=0.048 and 0.032).

CONCLUSION

Our results suggested that intratumoral TS expression is an independent prognostic factor in patients with gastric cancer who received postoperative adjuvant chemotherapy with S-1.

Effects of S-1 as a second-line chemotherapy for patients with relapsed pancreatic cancer

Adjuvant chemotherapy with gemcitabine is the standard treatment in Japan for patients who have undergone resection of pancreatic cancer. However, few reports have described suitable regimens for patients who present cancer relapse following adjuvant chemotherapy. In the present study, we retrospectively evaluated the efficacy and safety of S-1, an oral fluoropyrimidine derivative, as a second-line chemotherapy for patients who had suffered relapse of pancreatic cancer following adjuvant chemotherapy with gemcitabine. A total of 51 patients with pancreatic cancer suffered relapse after curative resection and subsequent adjuvant chemotherapy with gemcitabine at our institution. A group of 26 of these patients were administered S-1 orally twice daily after meals at a dose of 80 mg/m(2) for body surface areas for 14 consecutive days, followed by a 7-day rest (S-1 group). The remaining 25 patients received no additional anticancer drugs other than continuation of gemcitabine (GEM/BSC group). During a median follow-up period of 35 months, a significant difference was observed in overall survival (OAS) between the S-1 group and the control group (median OAS, 20.9 vs. 13.7 months; p=0.0157, log-rank test). Furthermore, there was a significant inter-group difference in survival after relapse (SAR) (median SAR, 11.4 vs. 6.20 months; p=0.0025, log-rank test). No increase in grade 3/4 hematological and non-hematological toxicity was observed in the S-1 group. In conclusion, second-line chemotherapy using a combination of S-1 and adjuvant chemotherapy with gemcitabine may be an efficient and beneficial strategy for patients with relapsed pancreatic cancer.

Programmed chemotherapy for patients with metastatic unresectable gastric cancer

BACKGROUND

Recent advances in the treatment of metastatic unresectable gastric cancers (MGC) include the development of new antitumor drugs and new regimens for their use. However, the selection of individually designed regimens by gastric cancer (GC) subtype remains problematic. Here, we investigated the clinical usefulness of programmed chemotherapy.

METHODOLOGY/PRINCIPAL FINDINGS

MGC patients were classified into three groups by clinical condition. We implemented a chemotherapy program consisting of S-1 combination regimens. Median survival time (MST) of level 1 patients was 416 days (95% CI: 313-506 days), with an overall response rate of 47%. MSTs of level 2 and 3 patients were 208 (95% CI: 153-287 days) and 95 days (95% CI: 28-136 days), respectively. Grade 3-4 toxicities were neutropenia in 12% and anorexia in 6%. All treatment- related toxicities were resolved, and no treatment-related deaths occurred.

CONCLUSIONS/SIGNIFICANCE

This program provided reasonable selection of case-matching regimens and may improve the survival of patients with MGC. Further, it may represent the first clinical tool to provide efficient chemotherapy course selection for MGC. Ongoing analysis of newly developed drugs and regimens will allow the efficacy of this chemotherapy program to be improved.

Pilot feasibility study of neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy with S-1 in patients with locally advanced gastric cancer featuring adjacent tissue invasion or JGCA bulky N2 lymph node metastases

BACKGROUND

To improve the prognosis of locally advanced gastric cancer, clinical trials of neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NAC) are being performed. Although neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy (NACRT) generally achieves superior local tumor control to NAC, its efficacy for locally advanced gastric cancers remains unclear. Therefore, a prospective trial was conducted to explore the feasibility and safety of NACRT with oral S-1 in a series of cases.

METHODS

Patients who had Japanese Gastric Cancer Association (JGCA) cStage IIIB gastric cancer were enrolled onto this study and received oral S-1 (65 mg/m(2)/day) administration and 50-Gy radiotherapy followed by radical surgery. The primary end points were completion of therapy and safety.

RESULTS

Between October 2005 and September 2008, 12 eligible patients were enrolled. Two could not complete the chemotherapy because of grade 3 toxicity. R0 resections were performed in 11 patients (91.7 %) (95 % confidence interval 61.5-99.8). Although operative morbidity was observed in two cases, there were no postoperative deaths. A pathologic response was observed in 10 patients (83.3 %). In five (62.5 %) of eight gastric cancers with invasion to adjacent structures, microscopic tumor deposits were not found in the affected organs. The 3-year survival rate was 58.3 % during a median follow-up period of 36 months.

CONCLUSIONS

Although this study is preliminary, the present regimen seems to be feasible and safe as a treatment for locally advanced gastric cancers featuring adjacent tissue invasion or JGCA bulky N2 disease. This treatment approach should now be tested using the new tumor, node, metastasis staging system in a large clinical trial.

Developments in metastatic pancreatic cancer: is gemcitabine still the standard?

In the past 15 years, we have seen few therapeutic advances for patients with pancreatic cancer, which is the fourth leading cause of cancer-related death in the United States. Currently, only about 6% of patients with advanced disease respond to standard gemcitabine therapy, and median survival is only about 6 mo. Moreover, phase III trials have shown that adding various cytotoxic and targeted chemotherapeutic agents to gemcitabine has failed to improve overall survival, except in cases in which gemcitabine combined with erlotinib show minimal survival benefit. Several meta-analyses have shown that the combination of gemcitabine with either a platinum analog or capecitabine may lead to clinically relevant survival prolongation, especially for patients with good performance status. Meanwhile, many studies have focused on the pharmacokinetic modulation of gemcitabine by fixed-dose administration, and metabolic or transport enzymes related to the response and toxicity of gemcitabine. Strikingly, a phase III trial in 2010 showed that, in comparison to gemcitabine alone, the FOLFIRINOX regimen in patients with advanced disease and good performance status, produced better median overall survival, median progression-free survival, and objective response rates. This regimen also resulted in greater, albeit manageable toxicity.

Targeted therapies for gastric cancer: current status

Gastric cancer represents one of the most common cancers internationally. Unfortunately the majority of patients still present at an advanced stage, and despite advances in diagnostic and treatment strategies, outcomes still remain poor with high mortality rates despite a decline in incidence. Whilst the utility of classical chemotherapy agents has been explored thoroughly (and continues to be investigated, alone or in various combinations), advances have been slow and the efficacy of these agents has reached a plateau. As such, the focus of recent study has shifted toward developing a greater understanding of the molecular biology of carcinogenesis and the cancer cell phenotype, and, in turn, the development of rationally designed drugs that target molecular aberrancies in signal transduction pathways specific to gastric cancer. These targets include circulating growth and angiogenic factors, cell surface receptors, and other molecules that comprise downstream intracellular signalling pathways, including receptor tyrosine kinases. Therapeutic advances in this area significantly lag behind other solid organ malignancies such as breast and colorectal cancer. This article reviews the role of targeted therapies in gastric cancer, including rationale and mechanism of action, current and emerging data, as single-agent therapy or in combination regimens. A recently published randomized phaseIII trial supporting the use of trastuzumab, an anti-human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2)/neu monoclonal antibody, in a selected population of patients is discussed. Therapies that have been evaluated in phase II trials are also reviewed, as well as promising new therapies currently being investigated in preclinical or phase I studies. There is optimism that targeted therapies, whether as single-agent therapy or in combination with traditional therapies, including chemotherapy, radiotherapy and surgery, may yet have an impact on improvement of the overall prognosis of gastric cancer.

Phase II trial of preoperative S-1 plus cisplatin followed by surgery for initially unresectable locally advanced gastric cancer

BACKGROUND

The aim of this study was to evaluate the efficacy and feasibility of preoperative chemotherapy with S-1 plus cisplatin in patients with initially unresectable locally advanced gastric cancer.

METHODS

We enrolled patients with initially unresectable locally advanced gastric cancer because of severe lymph node metastases or invasion of adjacent structures. Preoperative chemotherapy consisted of S-1 at 80 mg/m(2) divided in two daily doses for 21 days and cisplatin at 60 mg/m(2) intravenously on day 8, repeated every 35 days. If a tumor decreased in size, patients received 1 or 2 more courses. Surgery involved radical resection with D2 lymphadenectomy.

RESULTS

Between December 2000 and December 2007, 27 patients were enrolled on the study. No CR was obtained, but PR was seen in 17 cases, and the response rate was 63.0%. Thirteen patients (48.1%) had R0 resections. There were no treatment related deaths. The median overall survival time (MST) and the 3-year overall survival (OS) of all patients were 31.4 months and 31.0%, respectively. Among the 13 patients who underwent curative resection, the median disease-free survival (DFS) and the 3-year DFS were 17.4 months and 23.1%, respectively. The MST and the 3-year OS were 50.1 months and 53.8%, respectively. The most common site of initial recurrence after the R0 resection was the para-aortic lymph nodes.

CONCLUSIONS

Preoperative S-1 plus cisplatin can be safely delivered to patients undergoing radical gastrectomy. This regimen is promising as neoadjuvant chemotherapy for resectable gastric cancer. For initially unresectable locally advanced gastric cancer, new trials using more effective regimens along with extended lymph node dissection are necessary.

Tegafur/gimeracil/oteracil (S-1) approved for the treatment of advanced gastric cancer in adults when given in combination with cisplatin: a review comparing it with other fluoropyrimidine-based therapies

S-1 is a combination of three pharmacological compounds, namely tegafur, gimeracil, and oteracil potassium. Tegafur is a prodrug of 5-fluorouracil (5-FU), an oral fluoropyrimidine, and it has been developed as a replacement for infusional 5-FU therapy. S-1-based chemotherapy and the combination of S-1 and cisplatin are the most reasonable first-line standards for unresectable advanced gastric cancer in Japan. However, the application of S-1 for gastric cancer has been delayed in Western countries. One reason for this delay is that the pharmacokinetics of tegafur is affected by polymorphisms in cytochrome P-450 2A6, and consequently 5-FU concentrations in the plasma are more likely to be elevated in patients from Western countries. Although the dose of S-1 was reduced compared with the approved dose in Japan, a global Phase III study reported similar results regarding overall survival between S-1 plus cisplatin and infusional 5-FU plus cisplatin arms. Significant safety advantages were observed in the S-1 plus cisplatin arm compared with the infusional 5-FU plus cisplatin arm. S-1 plus cisplatin has become acceptable for Western countries, also, as a choice for unresectable advanced gastric cancer. Comparisons with capecitabine and combination of several targeting agents with S-1 are expected in the future.

Alternating treatment with S-1 plus low-dose cisplatin and S-1 alone for advanced gastric cancer

BACKGROUND

The aim of this study was to investigate the efficacy and safety of an alternating regimen of S-1 plus low-dose cisplatin and S-1 alone as adjuvant therapy in patients with advanced gastric cancer.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

The study group comprised 100 patients with stage IIIA, stage IIIB, or stage IV. Patients postoperatively received three 5-week cycles of chemotherapy. In the first cycle, S-1 (80 mg/m(2)) was given daily for 3 weeks, followed by 2 weeks of rest, and low-dose cisplatin (10 mg) was given on days 1 to 5 and 8 to 12. In the second and third 5-week cycles, S-1 alone was given. The primary endpoints were median survival time, and survival at 1 and 3 years. Secondary endpoints were safety and overall response rates.

RESULTS

Median survival time was 18 months in stage IV and 32 months in stage IIIB. The rates of survival at 1 and 3 years were 68.7% and 30.6% in stage IV, 100% and 68.4% in stage IIIA, and 100% and 46.6% in stage IIIB, respectively. Adverse events of grade 3 or 4 occurred in 14% of the patients. The overall response rate of target lesions was 54%.

CONCLUSION

Our regimen is effective and safe for adjuvant therapy in patients with curatively resected stage III gastric cancer.

Phase II study of S-1 monotherapy in platinum-refractory, advanced non-small cell lung cancer

OBJECTIVE

The aim of this study was to evaluate the efficacy and toxicity of a novel oral 5-fluorouracil formulation (S-1) as second-line therapy after platinum agent chemotherapy for advanced non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC).

METHODS

S-1 was administered orally at a dose of 80 mg/m(2) for 28 days, followed by 14 days of rest (1 cycle); treatment was repeated until disease progression, unacceptable toxicity, or patient refusal.

RESULTS

Of the 46 patients enrolled in this study, 44 were evaluable. Six patients (14%) exhibited a partial response and 28 (64%) showed stable disease. Disease-control rate was 77.3% (34/44) (95% CI, 64.9-89.7%). The overall response rate was 14% (6/44) (95% CI, 3.5-23.8%). Median progression-free survival was 4.2 months. The median survival time was 16.4 months, and the one-year survival rate 60.3%. Grade 3/4 hematological toxicities were minor. All of those adverse reactions were tolerable and reversible.

CONCLUSION

This study demonstrated the efficacy of S-1 monotherapy as second-line treatment for advanced NSCLC.

Multicenter phase II study of weekly paclitaxel plus S-1 combination chemotherapy in patients with advanced gastric cancer

BACKGROUND

A multicenter phase II study was conducted to evaluate the efficacy and safety of a combination regimen of weekly paclitaxel plus S-1 in patients with advanced gastric cancer.

METHODS

Patients with previously untreated metastatic or recurrent gastric cancer received intravenous paclitaxel 50 mg/m(2) on days 1, 8, and 15, plus oral S-1 40 mg/m(2) b.i.d. on days 1 to 14 followed by 2 weeks off, in a 28-day cycle.

RESULTS

A total of 54 patients were registered. All of them had measurable disease and were determined to be eligible for the present study. Two complete responses and 23 partial responses were confirmed, giving an overall response rate of 46.3%. At a final follow up of 3 years, the median progression-free survival and median overall survival were 6.0 and 14.3 months, respectively. Grade 3 neutropenia occurred in 14 patients, and grade 4 in 1 patient (total, 27.8%). The most serious nonhematological toxicity was diarrhea, where grade 3 occurred in 5 patients (9.3%). There were no treatment-related deaths.

CONCLUSION

A combination of weekly paclitaxel plus S-1 was found to be well tolerated and effective in patients with advanced gastric cancer. Further investigation with comparative trials is needed for confirmation.

Octreotide acetate enables the administration of chemoradiotherapy, including the oral anticancer drug S-1, in gastric cancer patients with malignant gastrointestinal obstruction

Advanced gastric cancer frequently results in the inability to ingest food or drink orally, a condition called malignant gastrointestinal obstruction (MGO). MGO is clinically defined as a gastrointestinal outlet obstruction caused by a large tumor, or malignant bowel obstruction with peritoneal dissemination. MGO impacts the quality of life by interfering with oral intake and by causing gastrointestinal symptoms, such as nausea, vomiting and abdominal pain. Octreotide acetate (OA) is an analogue of somatostatin which has been increasingly used to relieve gastrointestinal symptoms since it decreases the secretion of digestive juices and increases the absorption of water and electrolytes. In Japan, the oral anticancer drug S-1 was recently adopted as a key chemotherapeutic agent in advanced gastric cancer; however, its oral formulation precludes its utility in the MGO setting. This is a pilot study of chemoradiotherapy plus OA in gastric cancer with MGO. Patients were initially treated with OA to control gastrointestinal symptoms. Following resolution of their symptoms, the patients received chemotherapy with S-1 plus low-dose cisplatin and radiation. Irradiation was targeted at the primary tumor and surrounding lesions, including the lymph nodes. Grade 4 toxicity was observed in only 1 patient, and no treatment-related deaths were noted. After treatment, 3 patients achieved a partial response and 4 achieved stable disease. Of the 9 patients, 8 were able to tolerate solid food orally and were discharged. The outcomes of these cases suggest that OA is a useful adjunctive therapy that enables advanced gastric cancer patients with MGO to receive S-1-containing chemotherapy.

Complete response to preoperative chemoradiotherapy in highly advanced gastric adenocarcinoma

This report presents a case of highly advanced gastric cancer that achieved a histologically complete response (CR) to preoperative chemoradiotherapy with S-1 plus low-dose Cisplatin. A 60-year-old male patient underwent FDG positron emission tomography (PET) during a routine health examination. The patient was found to have swollen paraaortic lymph nodes. Shortly thereafter, he was diagnosed with gastric carcinoma with a type 2 tumor in the antrum with paraaortic lymph node metastases based on FDG-PET, endoscopic examination and abdominal computed tomography. After the completion of chemoradiation therapy (CRT), the tumor and the paraaortic lymph node metastases disappeared. The patient underwent surgery 5 wk after the completion of CRT, including a subtotal gastrectomy with Roux-en-Y reconstruction, D3 lymph node dissection and a left adrenalectomy. No cancer cells were detected in the resected specimen either in the primary lesion or lymph nodes, thus confirming a pathologically CR to CRT (CR grade 3). The patient has been stable and well without any evidence of recurrence for 48 mo after surgery. Such a preoperative CRT regimen might therefore be very effective for treatment of some advanced gastric cancers.

S-1-based therapy versus 5-FU-based therapy in advanced gastric cancer: a meta-analysis

We set out to evaluate the efficacy and safety of S-1-based therapy versus fluorouracil (5-FU)-based therapy in advanced gastric cancer (AGC). Eligible studies were identified from Pubmed, EMBASE, and Cochrane Library. Additionally, abstracts presented at American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) conferences held between January 2000 and November 2009 were searched to identify relevant clinical trials. The outcome included overall survival (OS), overall response rate (ORR), and grade 3/4 advent events. Four randomized controlled trials (one full text and three abstracts) with 2,115 participants in AGC were identified in our analysis(1,065 patients were in the S-1-based group, 1,050 patients were in the 5-FU-based group). Meta-analysis showed there was significant OS benefit in favor of S-1-based therapy (hazard ratio [HR]=0.87, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.79 to 0.96). Pooled estimate for ORR showed no significant difference between S-1-based group and 5-FU-based group (OR=1.25, 95%CI: 0.31 to 5.09). Lower incidence of grade 3/4 neutropenia was observed in patients with S-1-based therapy (OR=0.33, 95%CI: 0.25 to 0.44). With regard to grade 3/4 anemia (OR=1.20, 95%CI: 0.74 to 1.96), leucopenia (OR=1.09, 95%CI: 0.43 to 2.74), stomatitis (OR=2.65, 95%CI: 0.12 to 58.89), diarrhea (OR=0.53, 95% CI: 0.00 to 229.10), nausea (OR=1.36, 95%CI: 0.68 to 2.72), and treatment-related deaths (OR=1.84, 95%CI: 0.95 to 3.54), equivalent frequencies were found between groups. S-1-based therapy significantly improved OS in relation to 5-FU-based therapy. ORR and safety profile were considerable between two groups. These results needed to be confirmed by high-quality trials and further studies in the West.

Strategies for treating liver metastasis from gastric cancer

The prognosis of patients with liver metastasis from gastric cancer is dismal. This article reviews the characteristics of gastric cancer metastasizing to the liver, and multimodality of treatments. Differentiated adenocarcinoma, poorly differentiated adenocarcinoma with a medullary growth pattern, and special types, including endocrine carcinoma and hepatoid carcinoma, are likely to metastasize to the liver. The overexpression of growth factors or adhesion molecules is clinically significant for liver metastasis. Surgery for liver metastases arising from gastric adenocarcinoma is reasonable if a complete resection seems feasible after careful preoperative staging. A hepatic resection should always be considered as an option for gastric cancer patients with hepatic metastases. Newer generation cytotoxic agents such as S-1, irinotecan, and taxanes show promising activity for patients with metastases. Adjuvant chemotherapy or molecular targeted therapy will provide significant benefits to patients in the future.

A Phase II Study of S-1 Monotherapy as a First-line Combination Therapy of S-1 Plus Cisplatin as a Second-line Therapy, and Weekly Paclitaxel Monotherapy as a Third-line Therapy in Patients with Advanced Gastric Carcinoma: A Second Report

BACKGROUND

We have previousy reported on a Phase II study of S-1 monotherapy as a first line, combination therapy of S-1 plus cisplatin as a second line, and weekly paclitaxel monotherapy as a third line therapy in patients with advanced gastric carcinomas. The median survival time (MST) of patients over the whole course of treatment was not previously calculated because 12 out of 19 patients had not yet succumbed. Since then, we have calculated the MST for this study and herein report our findings.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

Between 2002 and 2005, 19 patients were enrolled in this study. Chemotherapy consisted of either 60 mg/m(2) of S-1 for 4 weeks at 6-week intervals, a combination of 60 mg/m(2) S-1 for 3 weeks and 60 mg/m(2) cisplatin on day 8 at 5-week intervals, or 60 mg/m(2) paclitaxel at days 1, 8, and 15, at 4-week intervals. The regimens were repeated until the occurrence of unacceptable toxicities, disease progression, or patient noncompliance. The primary end point was the overall survival.

RESULTS

The median survival time was 774 days. The response rates were 33.3% (3/9), 12.5% (1/8), and 0% (0/4) after the first, second, and third line chemotherapies, respectively. The major adverse hematological toxicity was leukopenia, which reached grades 3-4 in all lines of chemotherapy investigated. In addition, the major adverse non-hematological toxicity was anorexia, which reached grade 3-4 in second line chemotherapy, and no deaths were attributable to the adverse effects of the drugs.

CONCLUSION

This sequential therapy was an effective treatment for advanced gastric cancer with acceptable toxic side-effects. We considered this therapy to be effective because of the smooth transition to the next regimen.

Phase I trial of oxaliplatin plus S-1 chemotherapy in patients with metastatic colorectal cancer

Advanced colorectal cancer can be effectively treated with S-1, as well as with a combination of oxaliplatin, 5-fluorouracil (5FU) and leucovorin (LV). However, S-1 together with oxaliplatin may provide a more convenient alternative to 5FU/LV. To evaluate the performance of S-1 combined with oxaliplatin for patients with colorectal cancer, we conducted a Phase I clinical trial in an outpatient setting. We administered S-1 to 15 patients with advanced colorectal adenocarcinoma for two weeks followed by one week of rest. Oxaliplatin was also administered on day 1 of the S-1 cycle. The dose of oxaliplatin was increased from 40 to 85 mg/m(2) to define the maximum tolerated dose and recommended dose in preparation for a Phase II trial. We administered 102 courses of treatment to 15 patients. Grade 3 thrombocytopenia developed in only 1 patient at a dose of 85 mg/m(2) of oxaliplatin plus oral S-1. No other grade 3-4 toxicities developed. No dose-limiting toxicity developed at level 4 of our regimen (oxaliplatin 85 mg/m(2)), and the recommended dose for a Phase II trial was 85 mg/m(2) of oxaliplatin in an outpatient setting.

Impacts of fluorouracil-metabolizing enzymes on the outcomes of patients treated with S-1 alone or S-1 plus cisplatin for first-line treatment of advanced gastric cancer

A phase III trial of S-1 plus cisplatin (SP) versus S-1 alone, for first-line treatment of advanced gastric cancer (SPIRITS trial), has shown that overall survival was better in patients treated with SP than with S-1 alone. In the present retrospective biomarker study, we aimed to develop a methodology to identify the patients with advanced gastric cancer who would respond better to S-1 alone than SP. We studied 120 patients who received S-1 alone or SP for first-line chemotherapy for advanced gastric cancer, and quantitatively evaluated mRNA levels of thymidylate synthase (TS), thymidine phosphorylase (TP), orotate phosphoribosyltransferase (OPRT), dihydropyrimidine dehydrogenase, vascular endothelial growth factor-A, and epidermal growth factor receptor in paraffin-embedded specimens of primary tumors. Multivariate survival analysis in patients who received S-1 monotherapy (66 patients) demonstrated that low TP expression (hazard ratio: 2.55 (95% CI: (1.33 to 4.89)), low TS (2.71 (1.36 to 5.37)), and high OPRT (0.33 (0.13 to 0.86)) were significant predictors of long overall survival. In patients with lower expression of both TP and TS (n = 23) than their cutoff values, the S-1 alone group (n = 15) had longer overall survival than the SP group (n = 8; median overall survival, 18.2 months vs. 9.4 months), whereas the frequency of overall adverse events in the S-1 alone group tended to be lower than that in SP group. Our results suggest that these biomarkers are useful for selection of patients with advanced gastric cancer in whom treatment with S-1 alone will yield survival benefit.

Two dosages of oral fluoropyrimidine S-1 of 35 and 40 mg/m2 bid: comparison of the pharmacokinetic profiles in Korean patients with advanced gastric cancer

Objective

In this study, we compared the pharmacokinetic profiles of 5-fluorouracil (5-FU), tegafur, 5-chloro-2,4-dihydroxypyridine (CDHP) and potassium oxonate (Oxo) after administration of S-1 at 35 or 40 mg/m² bid for 28 consecutive days, in Cycles 1 and 3, in patients with advanced gastric cancer.

Methods

Three patients were enrolled for each dosage. S-1 dosage was assigned based on body surface area (BSA), which is different from the Japanese dosing system. The median daily dose per BSA was 76 mg/m², ranging from 70 to 88 mg/m².

Results

Plasma levels of 5-FU, tegafur, CDHP and Oxo at 4 h post-dose reached steady-state on day 8. The estimated steady-state level was dependent on S-1 dosage. There were no intercyclic differences of pre-dose and 4 h post-dose levels between Cycles 1 and 3, implying no cumulative effect of S-1 was shown probably due to 2-week drug-resting period. Pharmacokinetic profiles on day 28 were similar to previous Japanese report. C_max and AUC_{0–48 h} values of each S-1 component increased depending on S-1 dosage. Pharmacokinetic parameters were not correlated with tumor response or toxicity.

Conclusions

We suggest that these pharmacokinetic profiles of Asian population could provide a basis for schedule optimization and for additional studies on interaction with other antitumor drugs.

Feasibility and efficacy of preoperative chemotherapy with docetaxel, cisplatin and S-1 in gastric cancer patients with para-aortic lymph node metastases

We performed preoperative chemotherapy with combined docetaxel, cisplatin and S-1 (DCS therapy) for treatment of advanced gastric cancer with para-aortic lymph node metastases. The aim of this study was to determine the maximum tolerated dose (MTD) and the dose-limiting toxicities. Furthermore, we evaluated the feasibility of DCS therapy in a preoperative setting, and also examined the pathological response. Fifteen patients received intravenous docetaxel and cisplatin (30, 35 or 40 mg/m2, each dose escalation was reciprocal) on days 1 and 15 and oral S-1 (40 mg/m2 twice daily) on days 1-14 every 4 weeks. After one cycle of chemotherapy, toxicities were evaluated and after two cycles of chemotherapy, patients who were judged to be candidates for curative resection underwent gastrectomy with D2 lymphadenectomy plus para-aortic lymph node dissection. The MTD of this combination was presumed to be at dose level 3 (docetaxel 40 mg/m2 and cisplatin 35 mg/m2). The dose-limiting toxicities were grade 4 neutropenia in one patient, grade 3 febrile neutropenia in two patients and grade 3 diarrhoea in two patients. Thirteen of the 15 patients received complete resection and there was no operation-related death. Good pathological responses were observed in 12 cases with lesions in the lymph nodes (complete response, n = 4; partial response, n = 8) and 11 patients with primary stomach lesions (complete response, n = 2; partial response, n = 9). This preoperative DCS therapy was considered feasible and provided a high pathological response rate in gastric cancer patients with para-aortic lymph node metastases.

Successful treatment of duodenal adenocarcinoma with multiple liver metastases by S-1 + irinotecan (CPT-11)

Unresectable duodenal adenocarcinoma excluding the ampullary region is rare, and no standard chemotherapy has been defined for this disease. Although S-1-based chemotherapy is widely administered for advanced gastric cancer, few reports have described advanced duodenal cancer treated with S-1-based chemotherapy. We present herein a case of duodenal adenocarcinoma with liver metastases. The patient was a 72-year-old man with chief complaints of epigastralgia and fever. Gastroduodenal endoscopy revealed an ulcerative lesion on the upper wall of the duodenal bulb, and biopsy specimens showed well-differentiated adenocarcinoma. Computed tomography and ultrasonography showed multiple liver metastases. S-1 (80 mg/m(2) day(-1) on days 1-21) + irinotecan (80 mg/m(2) day(-1) on days 1 and 15) were administered in 4-week intervals as first-line chemotherapy. Tumor markers subsequently normalized, and liver metastases were diminished. The progression-free term was 6 months. Grade 3 neutropenia and diarrhea were observed as adverse events. S-1 + cisplatin and S-1 + docetaxel were administered as second- and third-line chemotherapies, respectively. The patient died due to hepatic failure, with an overall survival of 15 months. S-1-based regimens appear effective and well tolerated, and S-1 may thus represent a useful option for advanced duodenal cancer.

Feasibility of self-expandable metallic stent plus chemotherapy for metastatic gastric cancer with pyloric stenosis

BACKGROUND AND AIM

Self-expandable metallic stent placement is accepted as palliative therapy for advanced gastric cancer with gastric outlet obstruction, but data are lacking for chemotherapy after self-expandable metallic stent insertion. This study retrospectively compared results between surgery plus chemotherapy and stenting plus chemotherapy for metastatic gastric cancer with pyloric stenosis.

METHODS

Subjects comprised 26 patients who received chemotherapy after surgery or endoscopic stenting for metastatic gastric cancer with pyloric stenosis between April 2000 and December 2007 in four Japanese hospitals. Patients were categorized into two groups: 15 patients who received chemotherapy after surgery for pyloric stenosis (Surgery group); and 11 patients who received chemotherapy after self-expandable metallic stent placement for pyloric stenosis (Stent group).

RESULTS

Median survival time and median time to treatment failure were 284 days and 226 days in the Surgery group and 337 days and 247 days in the Stent group, respectively. No significant differences were noted between survival and time to treatment failure. No significant differences were found in median oral intake rate (Surgery, 93.1%; Stent, 93.2%) or median hospital stay rate (Surgery, 24.6%; Stent, 23.7%) during survival. Response rate was 45.5% in the Surgery group and 50% in the Stent group, with no significant difference. Likewise, no significant differences were noted between groups for frequencies of toxicity or complications.

CONCLUSIONS

The present results suggest that chemotherapy after stenting is as effective and safe as chemotherapy after surgery. Stents may replace surgery in combination therapy with chemotherapy for metastatic gastric cancer with gastric outlet obstruction.

Phase I/II and pharmacokinetic study of S-1 and oxaliplatin in previously untreated advanced gastric cancer

BACKGROUND

We aimed to determine the maximum-tolerated dose (MTD) of S-1 when given with oxaliplatin, to evaluate S-1 pharmacokinetics, and to determine the efficacy and safety of this regimen as a first-line treatment for advanced gastric cancer (AGC).

METHODS

Oxaliplatin was fixed at a dose of 130 mg/m2 on day 1 (D1). S-1 was administered from D1 to D14 of a 3-week cycle, and escalated by 10 mg/m2 per day from 70 mg/m2 per day up to 100 mg/m2 per day. Pharmacokinetic analyses were performed following a single dose of S-1 on D-5 and D1 of the first cycle.

RESULTS

In phase I (n=18), MTD was not defined. In phase II (n=47) with the planned maximum dose, partial response was achieved in 26 patients (55.3%) and stable disease in 14 patients (29.8%). The median time to progression was 6.6 months (95% CI 4.0-9.2 months) and the median overall survival was 12.5 months (95% CI 9.2-15.9 months). Frequent grade 3/4 toxicities included thrombocytopenia (39%), neutropenia (28%), anemia (17%), and leukopenia (13%). There was one grade 5 febrile neutropenia during the first cycle.

CONCLUSIONS

The pharmacokinetics of S-1 was not influenced by oxaliplatin. S-1/Oxaliplatin combination therapy is highly active against AGC and has a favorable toxicity profile.

S-1: a promising new oral fluoropyrimidine derivative

S-1 is an oral fluoropyrimidine that is designed to improve the antitumor activity of 5-fluorouracil (5-FU) concomitantly with an intent to reduce its toxicity. S-1 consists of tegafur, a prodrug of 5-FU combined with two 5-FU biochemical modulators:5-chloro-2,4-dihydroxypyridine (gimeracil or CDHP), a competitive inhibitor of dihydropyrimidine dehydrogenase and oteracil potassium which inhibits phosphorylation of 5-FU in the gastrointestinal tract decreasing serious gastrointestinal toxicities,including nausea, vomiting, stomatitis and diarrhea. Being an oral agent, S-1 offers convenience of administration and prevents complications of central venous access such as infection, thrombosis and bleeding. S-1 has shown efficacy in both gastrointestinal as well non-gastrointestinal malignancies. The authors review the current literature and provide their expert opinion on the incorporation of S-1 in the treatment of solid malignancies [corrected].

Phase II trial of S-1 for neoadjuvant chemotherapy against scirrhous gastric cancer (JCOG 0002)

BACKGROUND

The prognosis of scirrhous gastric cancer remains poor despite extended surgery or adjuvant or neoadjuvant chemotherapy. A pilot study of S-1 (TS-1; Taiho Pharmaceutical, Tokyo, Japan), an oral 5-fluorouracil derivative, for neoadjuvant chemotherapy unexpectedly showed good response and a promising effect on survival. Therefore, the Japan Clinical Oncology Group conducted a phase II trial to confirm the efficacy of S-1 for neoadjuvant chemotherapy against resectable scirrhous gastric cancer.

METHODS

Patients were eligible if they had typical scirrhous gastric cancer invading more than half of the stomach, and resectable disease confirmed by laparoscopic staging. The treatment schedule consisted of two courses (each, 4-week administration and 2-week withdrawal) of S-1 (100-120 mg/body per day), followed by radical surgery.

RESULTS

Fifty-five eligible patients were registered. Three completed only one course of the neoadjuvant chemotherapy, whereas 52 completed two courses. Toxicity was acceptable, with a few grade 3 (5.5%) events, but no grade 4 adverse events. The response rate was 32.6% in 43 evaluable patients. Of the 55 patients, 2 refused operation, 1 developed lung metastasis, and 52 underwent laparotomy. The curative resection rate was 80.8%, with acceptable morbidity and no mortality. The survival curve at 2 years' follow up showed a better survival rate than that of the historical controls, but did not reach the expected survival rate.

CONCLUSION

S-1 neoadjuvant chemotherapy appeared feasible and showed positive effects against scirrhous gastric cancer; however, the survival rate with S-1 did not reach the expected rate required when selecting an agent for a phase III trial to confirm the effectiveness of neoadjuvant chemotherapy against scirrhous gastric cancer.

Phase II study of S-1 monotherapy in paclitaxel- and cisplatin-refractory gastric cancer

PURPOSE

S-1 is a fourth-generation oral fluoropyrimidine that was developed to mimic the effects achieved with protracted continuous infusion of 5-fluorouracil (5-FU). This phase II study evaluated the efficacy and safety of S-1 salvage chemotherapy in patients with paclitaxel- and cisplatin-refractory gastric cancer. The primary end point was progression-free survival; secondary end points were overall survival, safety, and clinical benefit.

METHODS

Patients were eligible for the study if they had histologically documented gastric adenocarcinoma previously treated with paclitaxel and cisplatin, age > or = 18 years, Eastern Clinical Oncology Group performance status < or =2, adequate organ function, and no evidence of gastrointestinal obstruction or passage disturbance. Patients were treated with a dose of S-1 based on body surface area (BSA) as follows: BSA < 1.25 m(2), 80 mg/day; 1.25 < or = BSA < 1.5 m(2), 100 mg/day; BSA > or= 1.5 m(2), 120 mg/day. The total dose was divided in two and administered twice daily for 4 weeks followed by a 2-week rest period.

RESULTS

Of the 53 patients enrolled in this study, 49 were evaluable. A total of 190 chemotherapy cycles were administered, and the median number of cycles was 2. Five patients (9.4%) had a partial response, and 18 (34%) had stable disease. Median progression-free survival and overall survival were 4.9 and 10.4 months, respectively. Grade 3/4 hematological toxicities included neutropenia in six patients (11%) but no cases of febrile neutropenia were found. Most of the non-hematological toxicities were diarrhea, asthenia, and mucositis, but none reached grade 3 or grade 4 in severity. Improvement of pain was observed in 17 patients (32.1%).

CONCLUSIONS

S-1 monotherapy provides active and safe salvage chemotherapy for patients with advanced gastric cancer who have been previously treated with paclitaxel and cisplatin.

A phase II study of radical surgery followed by postoperative chemotherapy with S-1 for gastric carcinoma with free cancer cells in the peritoneal cavity (CCOG0301 study)

BACKGROUND

Patients with gastric cancer who have positive cytologic results for cancer cells in peritoneal washings (CY1) have poor outcomes, even in the absence of other distant metastases. A standard treatment for such patients remains to be established.

METHODS

We conducted a phase II trial with the 2-year survival rate as the primary endpoint. Patients who had gastric cancer with CY1 status but no other residual disease received postoperative chemotherapy with S-1 (1M tegafur-0.4M gimestat-1M otastat potassium) at a daily dose of 80mg/m(2) for 4 weeks, followed by 2 weeks of rest. This cycle was continued until disease progression or intolerable adverse events. D2 dissection was the recommended surgical procedure; splenectomy could be omitted at the discretion of the surgeon. Accrual of 50 patients was planned, and a 2-year survival rate of more than 36% was needed to exceed the historical control.

RESULTS

Forty-eight patients were enrolled, among whom 47 were assessable for survival and 46 for adverse reactions. Median overall survival was 705 days, and progression-free survival was 376 days. The 2-year survival rate was 47%. Median time to treatment failure was 288 days. Neutropenia was the commonest > or = grade 3 toxicity (6 patients), and anorexia was the most frequent > or = grade 2 non-hematologic toxicity (10 patients).

CONCLUSIONS

Gastrectomy followed by S-1 monotherapy resulted in survival that surpassed historical data and can serve as an active control treatment for future trials in patients who have gastric cancer with CY1 status in the Far East.

A patient with stage IV type 4 advanced gastric cancer who had a complete pathological response to short-term treatment with S-1 alone

An 81-year-old woman presented with dysphagia. Stage IV (cT3, cN3, cH0, cM1) type 4 advanced gastric cancer was diagnosed. The left adrenal gland and the paragastric, mediastinal, and abdominal para-aortic lymph nodes were enlarged. Ascites was present. The patient started to receive S-1 (100 mg/day), given orally for 4 weeks followed by 2 weeks of rest. During the first course of treatment, grade 2 anorexia, grade 2 vomiting, and grade 2 diarrhea developed. Treatment with S-1 was therefore discontinued on day 27. The tumor had shrunk and was severely deformed. There was marked narrowing of the pyloric antrum. Abdominal computed tomography revealed that ascites and enlargement of the left adrenal gland and paragastric lymph nodes had resolved. To ensure adequate oral intake and improve the patient's quality of life, a total gastrectomy with a limited (D1) lymph node dissection was performed. The primary gastric tumor, resected lymph nodes, and a peritoneal-lavage specimen were all negative for tumor. Histologically, the tumor had a complete pathological response to S-1. Two years after surgery, the patient is alive, with no evidence of metastasis or recurrence.

Severe adverse effects of 5-fluorouracil in S-1 were lessened by haemodialysis due to elimination of the drug

S-1 and cisplatin are used as one of the first-line chemotherapies for gastric cancer in Japan. The plasma concentration of 5-fluorouracil (5-FU) is increased in patients with renal dysfunction because gimeracil in S-1 inhibits the degradation of 5-FU and about 50% of gimeracil is excreted in the urine. We describe a 35-year-old man with acute kidney injury while taking S-1 and cisplatin for advanced gastric cancer and who presented severe adverse effects of 5-FU. This case report describes the evolution of the plasma concentrations of 5-FU with haemodialysis along with a decrease in the adverse drug effects.

Adjuvant treatments for resectable hepatocellular carcinoma

Hepatocellular carcinoma often recurs even after curative resection. Although some encouraging data showing improvements in recurrence-free times have been reported with the use of intraarterial 131I-lipiodol infusion, retinoids, interferon, or immunotherapy after hepatectomy, there is no consensus regarding standard adjuvant therapy for resectable hepatocellular carcinoma. A novel target agent, sorafenib, which has recently become a standard of care for advanced disease, may also be promising in an adjuvant setting to prevent early recurrence after curative surgery. In future trials, it will be important to identify appropriate target populations for each type of adjuvant approach; that is, an agent with definitive antitumor activity for high-risk patients, and one that shows chemoprevention for low-risk patients.