Etoposide, doxorubicin, cisplatin and 5-FU (EAP-F) therapy of advanced gastric cancer--its antitumor effect and evaluation of quality of life
Suda, K.; Kano, Y.; Inada, T.; Ogata, Y.
Gan to Kagaku Ryoho. Cancer and ChemoTherapy 20(12): 1791-1795
1993
ISSN/ISBN: 0385-0684 PMID: 8379671 Document Number: 419910
Fourteen patients with advanced gastric cancer were treated with EAP-F therapy. The regimen was CD DP 40 mg/m2 day 1 and 6, 5-FU 600 mg/m2 day 2 and 4, leucovorin 20 mg/m2 day 2 and 4, etoposide 60 mg/m2 day 3 and 5, and doxorubicin 20 mg/m2 day 7, with repetition every 28 days. Thirteen patients were evaluable; one patient was CR, four were PR, five were NC and three were PD. The response rate was 38.5% and median survival was 7 months. Hematologic toxicities were moderate to severe but tolerable, gastrointestinal toxicities were mild and renal toxicity was absent. Quality of life (QOL) of the patients was evaluated by means of symptom-free ratio (duration of symptom-free to survival time) and outpatient ratio (duration at home in relation to survival time). Patients with lymph node metastasis showed a higher symptom-free ratio and outpatient ratio than those with liver metastasis or peritoneal dissemination. All high-QOL patients were chemotherapy responders. In conclusion, EAP-F therapy is effective for advanced gastric cancer and its side effects are tolerable. CR or PR is necessary to achieve a high QOL.