Treatment of gastric adenocarcinoma with the combination of etoposide, adriamycin and cisplatin (EAP): comparison between two schedules

Postoperative chemotherapy in gastric cancer, consisting of etoposide, doxorubicin and cisplatin, followed by radiotherapy with concomitant cisplatin: A feasibility study

The prognosis following surgical treatment of gastric carcinoma (GC) or gastroesophageal junction (GEJ) adenocarcinoma remains poor. Although adjuvant chemo-radiotherapy with 5-fluorouracil has been shown to be beneficial, a high rate of distant failure has been reported. Thus, the toxicity profile and efficacy of an intensified chemo-radiotherapy regimen following complete or near-complete resection of GC was evaluated. Patients who underwent surgery for GC were eligible for evaluation. Treatment consisted of four cycles of modified EAP: etoposide 100 mg/m(2), days 1-3; cisplatin 27 mg/m(2), days 1-3; and adriamycin 40 mg/m(2), day 1; every 21 days, followed by a course of radiotherapy (45 Gy; 1.8 Gy/fr) combined with weekly cisplatin 40 mg/m(2). In total, 40 patients were included in the analysis. Median follow-up was 34 months from the onset of chemotherapy. Microscopic stage IV disease and/or R1 resection were found in 11 patients. For these patients, the median progression-free survival was 6.5 months, and overall survival 9.5 months, compared to 25 and 54 months, respectively, for the remaining 29 patients. In the latter subgroup, longer disease-free survival was associated with average dose intensity of >90% for the four cycles of EAP. The predominant grade 3-4 toxicities during EAP-chemotherapy were hematological adverse events. Nevertheless, the rate of severe non-hematologic toxicity reached 60%. There was one toxicity-related mortality. During the chemo-radiotherapy course, 39% of patients experienced grade 3-4 non-hematologic toxicities. It was concluded that the high toxicity rate of this regimen does not justify further evaluation of this postoperative protocol. Chemo-radiotherapy for R1 or pathological microscopic M1 patients does not appear to be justified.

Etoposide, doxorubicin and cisplatin alternating with 5-fluorouracil, doxorubicin and high-dose methotrexate in patients with advanced adenocarcinoma of the stomach or the gastroesophageal junction

Both the etoposide, doxorubicin, cisplatin (EAP) and 5-fluorouracil, doxorubicin, high-dose methotrexate (FAMTX) schedules have been reported to be active in advanced gastric cancer. Since these regimens include non-cross resistant agents, a regimen that consists of EAP alternating with FAMTX may have an advantage over each regimen alone. We undertook a phase II trial to evaluate EAP/FAMTX in patients with advanced adenocarcinoma of the stomach or gastroesophageal junction. Of the 56 patients treated, an objective response was observed in 34%, including complete response in 7%. Median response duration was 8 months and median survival for the entire group was 9 months. The main toxicity was myelosuppression. Hospitalization for granulocytopenic fever was required in 32% of patients and 34% required red blood cells (RBC) transfusion. Non-hematological toxicity was moderate. There were three drug-related deaths associated with granulocytopenic fever. We conclude that the alternating EAP/FAMTX regimen is associated with occasional lethal events and has no obvious advantage over either regimen alone.

A phase II study of etoposide, doxorubicin, and carboplatin in the treatment of advanced gastric cancer

Many phase II studies have reported improved response rates with severe toxicity of etoposide, doxorubicin (Adriamycin), and cisplatin in advanced gastric cancer. In an attempt to obtain a better regimen with high efficacy and less toxicity, a combination regimen of etoposide, doxorubicin, and carboplatin (EAC) had been developed and evaluated in this phase II study. Forty-six patients with advanced gastric cancer were enrolled in the study. The treatment consisted of doxorubicin 20 mg/m2 given intravenously on days 1 and 7, etoposide 70 mg/m2 intravenously on days 4, 5, and 6, and carboplatin 200 mg/m2 intravenously on days 2 and 8. Therapy was repeated every 4 weeks. Patients who had stable disease or who responded, received an additional two to six cycles of therapy. Among 45 patients evaluable for response and toxicity, there was a 49% objective response rate, including 7% complete remission and 42% partial response. There was 11% stable disease and 27% progressive disease. Among 11 patients with lymph node metastasis only after a curative gastrectomy, there was an 82% objective response rates with 27% having complete remission and 55% having partial response. The median follow-up was 16 months. The median survival duration of all 45 patients was 11 months. The median time to progression was 5 months. The main toxicity was myelosuppression, with a high incidence of 82% leukopenia but only 9% of grades III to IV. Gastrointestinal toxicity was mild, with a low incidence of 42% nausea and vomiting and only 2% of grades III to IV. There were no chemotherapy-related deaths. With mild and tolerable toxicity, the EAC regimen in our study has active antitumor activity in advanced gastric cancer, which may have a positive influence on long-term survival time. It has a high efficacy, especially in patients with lymph node metastasis only after a curative gastrectomy. This regimen deserves further clinical studies for testing activity and toxicity in advanced gastric cancer.

Phase II study of a modified combination of etoposide, doxorubicin, and cisplatin for patients with advanced gastric cancer

BACKGROUND

Based on the promising results of EAP (etoposide, doxorubicin, and cisplatin) combination, a phase II study of modified EAP combination was performed in patients with advanced gastric cancer to evaluate the response, toxicity, and survival.

METHOD

Fifty-two consecutive patients with measurable or evaluable advanced gastric cancer, who had no prior therapy except surgery, were treated every 28 days with etoposide 120 mg/m2/day, doxorubicin 25 mg/m2/day, and cisplatin 40 mg/m2/day on days 1 and 8, intravenously. Forty-seven patients were evaluable for response and toxicity.

RESULTS

Overall response rate was 40.5% (95% CI = 37-54.7%), including 12.8% complete response. Responses were higher in patients with locally advanced disease (57.89%) as compared to those with distant metastases (28.57%) (P = 0.044). The median overall survivals of the entire group and the responders were 7 months and 11 months, respectively. Complete responders had significantly longer response duration and overall survival (31.5 months and 45.5 months, respectively), as compared to partial responders (6 months and 9 months, respectively). Six of the responders (31.6%) were alive at 2 years. Disease extension and pretreatment performance status had significant effects on survival. Grade 3-4 toxicity was observed in 33% of patients. There were no deaths related to toxicity.

CONCLUSIONS

EAP as used in this trial is an effective treatment in advanced gastric cancer. The effect is more pronounced in patients with locally advanced disease.