Uemura N, et al. – A phase II study of modified DCS (mDCS) employed a reduced dose of docetaxel and assessed it regarding the clinical efficacy and adverse events, in order to reduce toxicities. Findings outlined the high clinical efficacy of modified DCS therapy, its efficacy was sufficient enough to attempt conversion therapy against unresectable gastric cancer. Although warranted careful management, modified DCS displayed fewer toxicities.

Methods

• Chemotherapy with S-1 (40 mg/m2 b.i.d) on days 1–14, and docetaxel (50 mg/m2) plus cisplatin (60 mg/m2) on day 8 every 3 weeks were given to patients with unresectable gastric cancer.
• Response rate (RR) was the primary endpoint.
• Analysts computed overall (OS) and progression-free survival (PFS), and toxicities.

Results

• Among the forty-nine patients enrolled from November 2011 to April 2014, 43 were eligible.
• Including two cases of a complete response (4.7%), and 32 cases of a partial response (74.4%), the overall RR was 79.1%.
• Although none showed progressive disease, nine cases had stable disease (20.9%).
• 15 cases (34.9%) underwent curative conversion surgery, of the 43 cases
• Moreover, the median PFS was 350 days (95% CI 240–416 days) and median OS was 722 days (95% CI 411 days–not reached).
• In 79.1%, grade 3/4 neutropenia developed, and febrile neutropenia in 34.9%, of patients.
• Anorexia (25.6%), nausea (4.7%), and diarrhea (9.3%) were non-hematological grade 3/4 adverse events.