Paclitaxel-based chemoradiotherapy in localized gastric carcinoma: degree of pathologic response and not clinical parameters dictated patient outcome

PURPOSE

Preoperative chemoradiotherapy may increase the R0 (curative) resection rate, overall survival (OS) duration, and disease-free survival (DFS) duration. We evaluated paclitaxel-based induction chemotherapy and chemoradiotherapy in patients with localized gastric or gastroesophageal adenocarcinoma to determine its feasibility, impact on the R0 resection rate, type of pathologic response, OS, and DFS.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

Patients with operable, localized gastric, or gastroesophageal adenocarcinoma were eligible. Staging included endoscopic ultrasonography (EUS) and laparoscopy. Patients received two 28-day cycles of induction chemotherapy of fluorouracil, paclitaxel, and cisplatin followed by 45 Gy of radiation and concurrent fluorouracil plus paclitaxel. The cancer was restaged and surgery was attempted. Postsurgery pathologic findings and R0 resection were correlated with OS and DFS.

RESULTS

Forty-one patients were enrolled. Most carcinomas were proximal (83%) and pretreatment stage EUST3 (85%). Forty patients (98%) underwent surgery, and 78% had an R0 resection. We observed a pathologic complete response (pathCR) rate of 20% and a pathologic partial response (pathPR) rate of 15% (< 10% residual cancer cells in the resected specimen). No pretreatment parameter (sex, cancer location, baseline T stage, or baseline N stage) predicted the type of postsurgery pathologic response, OS, or DFS. However, pathCR (P = .02), pathCR + pathPR (P = .006), R0 resection (P < .001), and postsurgery T and N stages (P = .01 and P < .001, respectively) were associated with OS. Same parameters were significantly correlated with DFS. Toxicity was manageable.

CONCLUSION

The type of pathologic response but not pretreatment parameters was associated with OS and DFS. Efforts to increase the rate of pathologic response and better systemic cancer control are warranted.

Multi-institutional trial of preoperative chemoradiotherapy in patients with potentially resectable gastric carcinoma

PURPOSE

In the West, curative (R0) resection is achieved in approximately 50% of patients with localized gastric carcinoma, and more than 60% die of cancer following an R0 resection. A multi-institutional study of preoperative chemoradiotherapy was done to assess the R0 resection rate, pathologic complete response (pathCR) rate, safety, and survival in patients with resectable gastric carcinoma.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

Operable patients with localized gastric adenocarcinoma were eligible. Staging also included a laparoscopy and endoscopic ultrasonography (EUS). Patients received up to two 28-day cycles of induction chemotherapy of fluorouracil, leucovorin, and cisplatin, followed by 45 Gy of radiation plus concurrent fluorouracil. Patients were then staged and surgery was attempted.

RESULTS

Thirty-four patients were registered at three institutions. One ineligible patient was excluded. Most patients had a promixal cancer and EUST3N1 designation. Twenty-eight (85%) of 33 patients underwent surgery. The R0 resection rate was 70% and pathCR rate was 30%. A pathologic partial response (< 10% residual carcinoma in the primary) occurred in eight patients (24%). EUS T plus N and postsurgery T plus N correlation showed significant downstaging (P = <.01). The median survival time for 33 patients was 33.7 months. Patients achieving a pathCR or pathPR had a significantly longer median survival time (63.9 months) than those achieving less than pathPR (12.6 months; P =.03). There were two treatment-related deaths.

CONCLUSION

Our data suggest that the three-step strategy of preoperative induction chemotherapy followed by chemoradiotherapy resulted in substantial pathologic response that resulted in durable survival time. This strategy is worthy of a direct comparison with postoperative adjuvant chemoradiotherapy.

Multi-institutional trial of preoperative chemoradiotherapy in patients with potentially resectable gastric carcinoma

PURPOSE

In the West, curative (R0) resection is achieved in approximately 50% of patients with localized gastric carcinoma, and more than 60% die of cancer following an R0 resection. A multi-institutional study of preoperative chemoradiotherapy was done to assess the R0 resection rate, pathologic complete response (pathCR) rate, safety, and survival in patients with resectable gastric carcinoma.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

Operable patients with localized gastric adenocarcinoma were eligible. Staging also included a laparoscopy and endoscopic ultrasonography (EUS). Patients received up to two 28-day cycles of induction chemotherapy of fluorouracil, leucovorin, and cisplatin, followed by 45 Gy of radiation plus concurrent fluorouracil. Patients were then staged and surgery was attempted.

RESULTS

Thirty-four patients were registered at three institutions. One ineligible patient was excluded. Most patients had a promixal cancer and EUST3N1 designation. Twenty-eight (85%) of 33 patients underwent surgery. The R0 resection rate was 70% and pathCR rate was 30%. A pathologic partial response (< 10% residual carcinoma in the primary) occurred in eight patients (24%). EUS T plus N and postsurgery T plus N correlation showed significant downstaging (P = <.01). The median survival time for 33 patients was 33.7 months. Patients achieving a pathCR or pathPR had a significantly longer median survival time (63.9 months) than those achieving less than pathPR (12.6 months; P =.03). There were two treatment-related deaths.

CONCLUSION

Our data suggest that the three-step strategy of preoperative induction chemotherapy followed by chemoradiotherapy resulted in substantial pathologic response that resulted in durable survival time. This strategy is worthy of a direct comparison with postoperative adjuvant chemoradiotherapy.

Significance of post-chemoradiation biopsy in predicting residual esophageal carcinoma in the surgical specimen

Pathologic complete response in the resected esophagus can be achieved in approximately 30% of patients with locally advanced esophageal or gastroesophageal junction carcinoma after preoperative chemoradiation therapy. These patients tend to have a longer survival than those who have less than pathologic complete response. Post-chemoradiation esophageal biopsy (PCEB) is used to check for the presence of residual tumor before a definitive resection is performed, but the clinical significance of PCEB findings is not clear due to the possibility of sampling bias and the superficial nature of the specimen obtained. We evaluated the use of PCEB (defined as biopsy taken within 30 days before esophagectomy) in predicting residual cancer in post-treatment esophagectomy specimens. PCEB was performed in 65 of 183 (36%) patients with locally advanced esophageal or gastroesophageal junction carcinoma, who received preoperative chemoradiation therapy. The cancer status in PCEB was correlated with the residual cancer in the esophagectomy specimens. PCEB had no cancer in 80% (52 of 65) of patients (Bx-negative) and cancer in 20% (13 of 65) of patients (Bx-positive). There was no difference in the presence of residual cancer (either in esophagus or lymph node) in esophagectomy specimens between Bx-negative patients (77%, 40 of 52) or Bx-positive patients (92%, 12 of 13), P = 0.44. The positive predictive value of biopsy was 92% (12 of 13), negative predictive value 23% (12 of 52), sensitivity 23% (12 of 52) and specificity 92% (12 of 13). There was no difference in the residual cancer staging in the esophagectomy specimen between Bx-positive and Bx-negative patients. In contrast, residual metastatic carcinoma in lymph nodes was more frequent in Bx-positive patients (69.2%, 9 of 13) than in Bx-negative patients (28.8%, 15 of 52), P = 0.01. Our data suggest that PCEB is a specific but not a sensitive predictor of residual cancer following esophagectomy. Bx-positive patients tend to have more frequent residual tumor in lymph nodes. The utility of PCEB in predicting residual cancer in the lymph nodes needs to be explored further along with molecular predictors of response to preoperative therapy.

[Is neoadjuvant therapy for locally advanced stomach carcinoma standard?]

Despite surgical efforts and encouraging data of a few postoperative therapy trials, locally advanced gastric cancer is in need of the development of effective multimodal therapeutic concepts. Regarding preoperative therapy the goal is to raise the number of complete tumor resections (R0-resections) leading to an improved prognosis of the disease. Neoadjuvant therapy has the theoretical advantage of early destruction of distant micrometastasis with a consecutive reduction of tumor relapse outside the resection margins. The likelihood of R0-resections should be increased with the response of the primary tumor to neoadjuvant therapy. Neoadjuvant chemotherapy using platinum based regimens in gastric cancer has shown its activity in a number of phase II studies. Especially after response to chemotherapy the survival was significantly better after complete surgical tumor resection. The neoadjuvant use of a sequence of chemotherapy followed by radiotherapy before gastrectomy did result in a complete histopathological response in 20-25% of gastric cancer patients. This regimen seems to be promising, but there are still no long term results available. Parallel to the expected data from the first phase III studies the main impact of research in this field has to be focused on to the development of new and effective therapeutic agents and with accompanying identification of factors which are able to predict the response to neoadjuvant treatment.

Therapeutic response to octreotide in patients with refractory CPT-11 induced diarrhea

PURPOSE

Severe diarrhea can represent a dose-limiting toxicity with the use of CPT-11. Conventional therapy is ineffective in some patients and is also limited by patient compliance. We report our observation on the effectiveness of octreotide acetate in the treatment of CPT-11-induced diarrhea refractory to opioids.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

We describe 4 patients with metastatic gastrointestinal tumors who developed severe diarrhea following treatment with CPT-11 (65-125 mg/m2/weekly for 4 weeks every 6 weeks). Diarrhea was refractory to treatment with loperamide and diphenoxylate and was treated with octreotide acetate.

RESULTS

Complete resolution of diarrhea was observed within 2-4 days of octreotide acetate treatment. Three patients responded to SC octreotide given every 8 hours and the 4th patient to octreotide given by continuous s.c. infusion.

CONCLUSIONS

Our preliminary observation suggests value of octreotide in the control of CPT-11 induced refractory diarrhea. Prospective studies are warranted.

Nonfunctioning islet cell carcinoma of the pancreas: survival results in a contemporary series of 163 patients

BACKGROUND

The natural history of nonfunctioning islet cell carcinoma of the pancreas is poorly defined. We therefore reviewed our institutional experience during a period of 12 years to define more clearly the natural history of this disease as a basis for individual therapeutic recommendations.

METHODS

The records of all patients who had histologically or cytologically confirmed nonfunctioning islet cell carcinoma of the pancreas were retrospectively reviewed. Patients were grouped by extent of disease at diagnosis and by initial treatment. Survival distributions were estimated by Kaplan-Meier analysis.

RESULTS

One hundred sixty-three patients with nonfunctioning islet cell carcinoma of the pancreas were identified. The overall median survival duration was 3.2 years. The median survival was 7.1 years in patients with localized disease who underwent a potentially curative resection and 5.2 years in those with locally advanced, unresectable, nonmetastatic disease (P = .04). Patients with metastatic disease that could not be resected had a median survival of 2.1 years.

CONCLUSIONS

Patients with completely resected localized disease had a long median survival. Patients with nonmetastatic but unresectable locally advanced disease also had a surprisingly long median survival; major treatment-related morbidity may be hard to justify in this subgroup. The short median survival in patients with metastatic disease suggests that the frequent practice of observation in this patient subgroup needs to be reexamined and that continued investigation of regional and systemic therapies with novel agents is warranted.

Chemoradiotherapy after surgery compared with surgery alone for adenocarcinoma of the stomach or gastroesophageal junction

BACKGROUND

Surgical resection of adenocarcinoma of the stomach is curative in less than 40 percent of cases. We investigated the effect of surgery plus postoperative (adjuvant) chemoradiotherapy on the survival of patients with resectable adenocarcinoma of the stomach or gastroesophageal junction.

METHODS

A total of 556 patients with resected adenocarcinoma of the stomach or gastroesophageal junction were randomly assigned to surgery plus postoperative chemoradiotherapy or surgery alone. The adjuvant treatment consisted of 425 mg of fluorouracil per square meter of body-surface area per day, plus 20 mg of leucovorin per square meter per day, for five days, followed by 4500 cGy of radiation at 180 cGy per day, given five days per week for five weeks, with modified doses of fluorouracil and leucovorin on the first four and the last three days of radiotherapy. One month after the completion of radiotherapy, two five-day cycles of fluorouracil (425 mg per square meter per day) plus leucovorin (20 mg per square meter per day) were given one month apart.

RESULTS

The median overall survival in the surgery-only group was 27 months, as compared with 36 months in the chemoradiotherapy group; the hazard ratio for death was 1.35 (95 percent confidence interval, 1.09 to 1.66; P=0.005). The hazard ratio for relapse was 1.52 (95 percent confidence interval, 1.23 to 1.86; P<0.001). Three patients (1 percent) died from toxic effects of the chemoradiotherapy; grade 3 toxic effects occurred in 41 percent of the patients in the chemoradiotherapy group, and grade 4 toxic effects occurred in 32 percent.

CONCLUSIONS

Postoperative chemoradiotherapy should be considered for all patients at high risk for recurrence of adenocarcinoma of the stomach or gastroesophageal junction who have undergone curative resection.

A three-step strategy of induction chemotherapy then chemoradiation followed by surgery in patients with potentially resectable carcinoma of the esophagus or gastroesophageal junction

BACKGROUND

Patients with locoregional carcinoma of the esophagus or gastroesophageal junction have a poor survival rate after surgery. Preoperative chemotherapy or chemoradiotherapy has not improved the outcome for these patients. Our study was designed to assess the feasibility of preoperative induction combination chemotherapy in addition to chemoradiotherapy to improve the curative resection rate, local control, and survival. PATIENTS AND METHODS Patients having histologic proof of localized carcinoma (either squamous cell carcinoma or adenocarcinoma) of the esophagus or gastroesophageal junction underwent full classification including endoscopic ultrasonography (EUS). Patients first received up to two courses of induction chemotherapy consisting of 5-fluorouracil at 750 mg/m(2)/day as continuous infusion on Days 1--5, cisplatin at 15 mg/m(2)/day as an intravenous bolus on Days 1--5, and paclitaxel at 200 mg/m(2) as a 24-hour intravenous infusion on Day 1. The second course was repeated on Day 29. This was followed by radiotherapy (45 grays in 25 fractions) and concurrent admission of 5-fluorouracil (300 mg/m(2)/day as a continuous infusion 5 days/week) and cisplatin (20 mg/m(2) on Days 1--5 of radiotherapy). After chemoradiotherapy, patients underwent surgery. The feasibility of this approach, curative resection rates, patient survival, and patterns of failure were assessed.

RESULTS

Thirty-seven of 38 patients enrolled were evaluable for toxicity and survival. Adenocarcinoma and distal esophageal location of carcinoma were observed frequently. Thirty-five (95%) of the 37 patients underwent surgery, all of whom had an R0 (curative) resection. A pathologic complete response was noted in 11 (30%) of the 37 total patients. In addition, 5 patients (14%) had only microscopic carcinoma. According to EUS classification, 31 (89%) of the 35 patients who underwent surgery had a T3 carcinoma whereas according to pathologic classification only 3 (9%) had a T3 carcinoma (P </= 0.01). Similarly, according to EUS classification, 23 patients (66%) had an N1 carcinoma, whereas according to pathologic classification only 7 patients (20%) had an N1 carcinoma (P < or = 0.01). At a median follow-up of 20 months (minimum follow-up, 13+ months; maximum follow-up, 36+ months), the median survival duration for the 37 patients had not yet been reached. In addition, there were two deaths related to surgery.

CONCLUSIONS

These data show that the three-step strategy of preoperative paclitaxel-based induction chemotherapy then chemoradiotherapy followed by surgery is feasible and appears quite active in patients having locoregional carcinoma of the esophagus or gastroesophageal junction. Future investigations should focus on substituting cisplatin with less toxic agents and including more systemic therapy with newer classes of agents.

A three-step strategy of induction chemotherapy then chemoradiation followed by surgery in patients with potentially resectable carcinoma of the esophagus or gastroesophageal junction

BACKGROUND

Patients with locoregional carcinoma of the esophagus or gastroesophageal junction have a poor survival rate after surgery. Preoperative chemotherapy or chemoradiotherapy has not improved the outcome for these patients. Our study was designed to assess the feasibility of preoperative induction combination chemotherapy in addition to chemoradiotherapy to improve the curative resection rate, local control, and survival. PATIENTS AND METHODS Patients having histologic proof of localized carcinoma (either squamous cell carcinoma or adenocarcinoma) of the esophagus or gastroesophageal junction underwent full classification including endoscopic ultrasonography (EUS). Patients first received up to two courses of induction chemotherapy consisting of 5-fluorouracil at 750 mg/m(2)/day as continuous infusion on Days 1--5, cisplatin at 15 mg/m(2)/day as an intravenous bolus on Days 1--5, and paclitaxel at 200 mg/m(2) as a 24-hour intravenous infusion on Day 1. The second course was repeated on Day 29. This was followed by radiotherapy (45 grays in 25 fractions) and concurrent admission of 5-fluorouracil (300 mg/m(2)/day as a continuous infusion 5 days/week) and cisplatin (20 mg/m(2) on Days 1--5 of radiotherapy). After chemoradiotherapy, patients underwent surgery. The feasibility of this approach, curative resection rates, patient survival, and patterns of failure were assessed.

RESULTS

Thirty-seven of 38 patients enrolled were evaluable for toxicity and survival. Adenocarcinoma and distal esophageal location of carcinoma were observed frequently. Thirty-five (95%) of the 37 patients underwent surgery, all of whom had an R0 (curative) resection. A pathologic complete response was noted in 11 (30%) of the 37 total patients. In addition, 5 patients (14%) had only microscopic carcinoma. According to EUS classification, 31 (89%) of the 35 patients who underwent surgery had a T3 carcinoma whereas according to pathologic classification only 3 (9%) had a T3 carcinoma (P </= 0.01). Similarly, according to EUS classification, 23 patients (66%) had an N1 carcinoma, whereas according to pathologic classification only 7 patients (20%) had an N1 carcinoma (P < or = 0.01). At a median follow-up of 20 months (minimum follow-up, 13+ months; maximum follow-up, 36+ months), the median survival duration for the 37 patients had not yet been reached. In addition, there were two deaths related to surgery.

CONCLUSIONS

These data show that the three-step strategy of preoperative paclitaxel-based induction chemotherapy then chemoradiotherapy followed by surgery is feasible and appears quite active in patients having locoregional carcinoma of the esophagus or gastroesophageal junction. Future investigations should focus on substituting cisplatin with less toxic agents and including more systemic therapy with newer classes of agents.

A pilot study of preoperative chemoradiotherapy for resectable gastric cancer

BACKGROUND

The goals of this study were to assess the feasibility and toxicity of a regimen of preoperative chemoradiotherapy, surgery, and intraoperative radiotherapy in the treatment of patients with potentially resectable gastric cancer. A secondary objective was to assess pathologic response to chemoradiotherapy in the treated tumors.

METHODS

Twenty-four patients were entered in the protocol. Treatment regimen consisted of 45 Gy of external beam radiotherapy with concurrent 5-FU given as a continuous infusion at a dose of 300 mg/m2. Patients were restaged 4-6 weeks after chemoradiotherapy and then underwent surgical resection and intraoperative radiotherapy to a dose of 10 Gy.

RESULTS

Twenty-three patients (96%) completed chemoradiotherapy in accordance with the study protocol. Nineteen (83%) of 23 patients who completed chemoradiotherapy underwent surgical resection with D2 lymphadenectomy. Four patients (17%) had progressive disease and were not resected. The morbidity and mortality rates were 32% and 5%, respectively. Of the resected patients, two (11%) had complete pathologic responses while 12 (63%) had pathologic evidence of significant treatment effect.

CONCLUSIONS

Preoperative chemoradiotherapy for gastric cancer can be delivered safely and is well tolerated. The rate of surgical complications is consistent with that of other recently reported prospective trials of gastrectomy alone. Preoperative chemoradiotherapy resulted in significant pathologic responses in the majority of treated tumors, and complete pathologic responses were achieved in some patients.

Irinotecan plus cisplatin in advanced gastric or gastroesophageal junction carcinoma

A phase II study was conducted to assess the response rate and toxicity profile of the combination of irinotecan (CPT-11, Camptosar) and cisplatin (Platinol) administered weekly to patients with untreated advanced adeno-carcinoma of the stomach or gastroesophageal junction. Patients with histologic proof of adenocarcinoma of the stomach or gastroesophageal junction and with adequate liver, kidney, and bone marrow functions were included. Patients were treated with 65 mg/m2 of irinotecan plus 30 mg/m2 of cisplatin, both administered intravenously 1 day per week for 4 consecutive weeks, followed by a 2-week recovery period. Response rate, time to progression, survival, and toxic effects were analyzed. Thirty-six (95%) of 38 registered patients were assessable for toxicity and response. The median number of 6-week cycles per patient was 2.5 (range: 1 to 7 cycles). Four patients (11%) achieved a complete response and 17 (47%) had a partial response for an overall response rate of 58%. Median time to progression of carcinoma was 24 weeks, and median survival was 9 months (range: 1 to 23+ months). There was one treatment-related death. Major toxic effects included diarrhea, neutropenia, and fatigue. The combination of irinotecan and cisplatin is active against gastric or gastroesophageal adenocarcinoma and should undergo further study. The addition of other active drugs or radiation therapy to this regimen would be of interest.

Pilot study of concurrent 5-fluorouracil/paclitaxel plus radiotherapy in patients with carcinoma of the esophagus and gastroesophageal junction

Preoperative concurrent chemotherapy and radiotherapy can be highly effective but are often associated with significant rates of morbidity and even mortality. We studied the toxicity of continuous infusion of 5-fluorouracil (5-FU) and weekly paclitaxel combined with radiotherapy. Patients had histologic proof of local-regional carcinoma of the esophagus or gastroesophageal (GE) junction, a Karnofsky performance status of 70 or greater, and normal liver, renal, and bone marrow functions. Chemotherapy consisted of continuous infusion of 5-FU (300 mg/m2/d) for 5 days a week for 5 weeks, plus paclitaxel (45 mg/m2) given during 3 hours every week for 5 weeks. Based on the tumor location and its resectability, the total dose of concurrent radiation varied between 45 Gy and 50.4 Gy. Nine men and one woman, with a median age of 61 years, were evaluated. One had GE junction cancer, six had distal esophageal cancer, and three had midesophageal cancer. Weight loss, nausea, vomiting, and dysphagia of grades I and II were noted. The hematologic toxicity was mild. No patients required transfusion. There was no leukopenia or thrombocytopenia. None of the patients was hospitalized during chemoradiation; all patients completed treatment as outpatients. Five patients had subsequent surgical resections: one had a pathologically complete response, and two had a partial response (>90% necrosis). Continuous infusion of 5-FU plus paclitaxel given concurrently with radiotherapy was well tolerated. We plan to study this regimen further in upper gastrointestinal cancers.

Irinotecan and cisplatin in advanced gastric or gastroesophageal junction carcinoma

Chemotherapy for advanced gastric and gastroesophageal junction carcinomas remains suboptimal. Both irinotecan (Camptosar) and cisplatin (Platinol) are active against this group of malignancies. This article focuses on the results of an ongoing phase II trial with this combination in patients with advanced gastric or gastroesophageal junction carcinoma. Data from this trial suggest that the combination of irinotecan and cisplatin is active in untreated as well as previously treated patients with gastric or gastroesophageal junction carcinoma.

Phase I study of irinotecan and concurrent radiation therapy for upper GI tumors

Irinotecan (Camptosar) is an active chemotherapeutic agent for lung, gastric, esophageal, and colorectal cancers and a potent radiosensitizer. This phase I study was designed to assess the maximum tolerated dose of weekly irinotecan combined with concurrent radiotherapy for patients with locally advanced, unresectable gastric, gastroesophageal junction, or esophageal cancer. Patients who received previous chemotherapy (excluding irinotecan) or who experienced recurrent cancer after surgery were eligible for this protocol. The total dose of radiation did not exceed 50.4 Gy (28 fractions of 1.8 Gy each). The starting dose level of irinotecan was 30 mg/m2 infused over 90 minutes given weekly for 5 weeks. Subsequent dose levels were increased in 10 mg/m2 increments to 40, 50, 60, and 70 mg/m2. Of 15 patients who have been enrolled to date, all are evaluable for toxicities and 12 for response. Major hematologic toxicities (grade 3/4) were neutropenia, chills, hemorrhage, and anemia. Grade 3/4 gastrointestinal toxicities included nausea, vomiting, dehydration, anorexia, and constipation. Other severe nonhematologic toxicities included fatigue, hypotension, and hypothermia, as well as cardiovascular toxicities. There was no severe diarrhea and no treatment-related deaths. Of the 12 evaluable patients, 7 (58%) responded, including 2 complete responses; 4 (30%) had no change and 1 had progressive disease. Survival ranged from 1 month to 15 months, with a median survival of 8 months. When the total dose of irinotecan given concurrently with radiotherapy was higher than 250 mg/m2, patients experienced significantly more severe grade 3/4 toxicities than with lower doses (P = .04), with no improvement in response rate. It was concluded that weekly doses of irinotecan of up to 60 mg/m2 with concurrent radiotherapy given over 5 weeks was feasible and demonstrated good response. This regimen did not cause severe diarrhea or pneumonitis, but neutropenia and fatigue were major toxicities. The study continues to accrue.

Gastroesophageal junction adenocarcinoma

The incidence rate of adenocarcinoma of the esophagogastric junction (AEG) is increasing in association with the epidemiologic rise in distal esophageal adenocarcinoma and gastric cardial (AEG type III) tumors. The overall survival rate is poor in most patients with AEG because lymph node or visceral metastases are frequently present at the time patients become symptomatic. A few patients are identified early in the disease because of screening for gastroesophageal reflux and Barrett's esophagus. Early stage AEG (T1N0 or T2NO, carcinoma in situ, or severe dysplasia ) can in many instances be cured with surgery alone. Ablative treatments for early stage AEG, including endoscopic fulguration by cautery and laser or photodynamic therapy, are investigational at this time. Locoregionally advanced AEG (T3, T4, N1, or M1a ) without distant systemic metastases (M1b) has a poor overall survival rate with surgery alone or definitive chemotherapy and radiation therapy without surgery. Analysis of the use of multimodality treatment strategies for locoregionally advanced AEG types I and II have demonstrated improved survival rates in two small phase III trials with preoperative concurrent chemoradiotherapy followed by surgical resection. In contrast, three small phase III trials with preoperative concurrent or sequential chemoradiotherapy in patients with predominantly squamous cell carcinoma did not demonstrate any clear survival advantage. Additionally, a randomized phase III study evaluating preoperative chemotherapy without radiation therapy in esophageal cancer (predominantly adenocarcinoma) has demonstrated no survival benefit. In light of these results, additional large randomized phase III studies are needed to confirm the potential benefit of preoperative concurrent chemoradiotherapy. At the present time, preoperative chemoradiotherapy remains investigational. For locoregionally advanced gastric adenocarcinoma, including AEG type III, postoperative concurrent 5-fluorouracil (5-FU)-based chemoradiotherapy is associated with improved survival as demonstrated in a recently completed random assignment trial (INT 0116). As a result, surgery with postoperative chemoradiotherapy has recently become the standard of care for patients with AJCC stage II and III gastric adenocarcinoma (including patients with AEG type III). Metastatic AEG (M1b) should be treated with palliative chemotherapy (in good performance patients) or supportive care (poor performance) in asymptomatic patients. Radiation therapy and endoscopic stent placement (expandable wire mesh) can be used to palliate dysphagia in patients with M1b disease. The development of expandable stents and improved radiotherapy has obviated surgical bypass to palliate patients with symptomatic, metastatic AEG.

Gastric cancer

Gastric adenocarcinoma is the most common malignancy of the upper gastrointestinal tract. During the past two decades it has migrated toward the gastroesophageal junction. Gastroesophageal reflux and obesity may play a role. Recent research suggests that a number of biologic and molecular differences exist in patients with gastric cancer. Further investigation in these areas may help in predicting outcome and directing therapy. Gastric cancer is not a curable condition when metastases are present. However, postoperative chemotherapy plus chemoradiotherapy, in the Intergroup trial 0116, prolonged the overall and disease-free survival rates of patients after a curative (R0) resection. It should be considered the new standard of care in patients with gastric cancer who have undergone curative resection with stage Ib-IV disease. Preoperative therapy strategies may increase the likelihood of R0 resection and remain an area of active investigation. Finally, development of more active agents is needed for the treatment of metastatic tumors.

Effect of operative volume on morbidity, mortality, and hospital use after esophagectomy for cancer

OBJECTIVE

We sought to evaluate the effect of operative volume, hospital size, and cancer specialization on morbidity, mortality, and hospital use after esophagectomy for cancer.

METHODS

Data derived from the Health Care Utilization Project was used to evaluate all Medicare-reimbursed esophagectomies for treatment of cancer from 1994 to 1996 in 13 national cancer institutions and 88 community hospitals. The complications of care, length of stay, hospital charges, and mortality were assessed according to hospital size (>/=600 beds vs <600 beds), cancer specialization (national cancer institution vs community hospital), and operative volume (esophageal [>/=5 Medicare esophagectomies per year vs <5 Medicare esophagectomies per year] and nonesophageal operations [>/=3333 cases per year vs <3333 cases per year]).

RESULTS

Mortality was lower in national cancer institution hospitals (4.2% [confidence interval, 2.0%-6.4%] vs 13.3% [confidence interval, 4.2%-26.2%], P =. 05) and in hospitals performing a large number of esophagectomies (3. 0% [confidence interval, 0.09%-5.1%] vs 12.2% [confidence interval, 4.5%-19.8%], P <.05). Multivariate analysis revealed that the independent risk factor for operative mortality was the volume of esophagectomies performed (odds ratio, 3.97; P =.03) and not the number of nonesophageal operations, hospital size, or cancer specialization. Hospitals performing a large number of esophagectomies also showed a tendency toward decreased complications (55% vs 68%, P =.06), decreased length of stay (14.7 days vs 17.7 days, P =.006), and decreased charges ($39,867 vs $62, 094, P <.005).

CONCLUSIONS

These results demonstrate improved outcomes and decreased hospital use in hospitals that perform a large number of esophagectomies and support the concept of tertiary referral centers for such complex oncologic procedures as esophagectomies.

Preoperative therapy for local-regional gastric cancer: rationale and review of trials

The standard approach for patients with local-regional gastric carcinoma is an attempted surgical resection to achieve a "curative resection" (also called an R0 resection) with adequate lymph node dissection. Western patients, who often get suboptimal surgery and have a high incidence of regional lymph node involvement, remain at higher risk of local and systemic relapse after an R0 resection than most Japanese patients. Numerous postoperative adjuvant therapy trials have not yet established an advantage for these patients. Thus in the West, the concept of preoperative therapy is appealing. The preoperative approach can potentially result in downstaging (or downsizing) of the primary tumor and, therefore, increasing the rate of R0 resection. Investigators are still refining the treatment strategies and defining ideal patient population for this approach. Undoubtedly, properly designed prospective randomized trials will be needed to establish any advantage with this approach. A number of newer agents hold a great deal of promise.

Recent developments in oral chemotherapy options for gastric carcinoma

The incidence of carcinoma of the stomach is low in the United States, Canada, and Australia but is a significant health problem in Asia, South America, Eastern Europe, and countries of the previous Soviet Union. For patients with advanced disease, chemotherapy remains palliative. With the increasing emphasis on patients' quality of life, convenience, and cost containment, oral chemotherapy has come into increasing focus. We review oral chemotherapy agents for use in patients with advanced gastric carcinoma. Etoposide, given intravenously, has modest activity in gastric carcinoma. We studied oral etoposide, which was administered to 28 patients at the starting dose of 50 mg/m2/day for 21 days followed by a 7-day rest period. Five patients achieved a partial response and 4 patients achieved a minor response. The drug was well tolerated. Common toxicities included myelosuppression, alopecia, and nausea. Oral etoposide thus shows evidence of modest activity against gastric carcinoma. In Japan, considerable advances have been made in the oral chemotherapy of gastric carcinoma. The second generation fluorouracil prodrug tegafur/uracil (UFT) has been extensively evaluated in Japan, Korea, and Spain. Data predominantly from Japan indicate that tegafur/uracil has a response rate of approximately 20% in treatment naive patients with advanced gastric carcinoma. When combined with other active agents, tegafur/uracil has a response rate of more than 30% in these patients. The available data also suggest that tegafur/uracil is well tolerated and that patient acceptance is high. In conclusion, future clinical research is likely to focus on the development of convenient outpatient regimens with efficacy equal to that of intravenous regimens.

A multi-institutional phase II study of BMS-182248-01 (BR96-doxorubicin conjugate) administered every 21 days in patients with advanced gastric adenocarcinoma

PURPOSE

High levels (> 200,000 molecules per carcinoma cell) of the LewisY antigen are expressed on the surface of most (> 75%) gastric carcinomas. The BMS-182248-01 is a chimeric variant of anti-LewisY monoclonal antibody that is conjugated with doxorubicin. In a phase I study, BMS-182248-01 resulted in a partial response in a patient with gastric carcinoma. We, therefore, conducted a multi-institutional phase II study of BMS-182248-01 in patients with advanced gastric carcinoma.

METHODS AND PATIENTS

Only patients with evidence of LewisY antigen by immunohistochemical method on their gastric carcinoma were treated. Patients with unresectable gastric adenocarcinoma were eligible. Patients had to have adequate liver, renal, and marrow functions. Written consent was obtained from all patients. All patients were hospitalized. BMS-182248-01 was administered at the starting dose of 700 mg/m2 i.v. over 24 hours on day 1 every 3 weeks.

RESULTS

Fifteen patients were enrolled. There were 10 men and 5 women. The median age at enrollment was 56 years, with ages ranging from 34 to 80 years. No objective responses were observed. Five patients had disease stabilization. The remaining 10 patients progressed on study. Rapidly reversible gastrointestinal toxicity, primarily nausea and emesis, was predominant. There was no neutropenia, thrombocytopenia, or cardiomyopathy.

CONCLUSIONS

Although BMS-182248-01 represents a novel approach of monoclonal antibody conjugated with an active chemotherapy agent, delivered intracellularly, it was ineffective in patients with gastric carcinoma whose tumors carried LewisY antigen.

Small cell carcinoma of the esophagus: the University of Texas M. D. Anderson Cancer Center experience and literature review

BACKGROUND

Small cell carcinoma of the esophagus is a rare disease with aggressive behavior and poor prognosis. Multidrug chemotherapy remains the treatment of choice given the systemic nature of the disease. Radiotherapy has been used concurrently with chemotherapy to enhance local control. The role of surgery in patients with limited disease is controversial. Limited data exist regarding the pathologic response of the tumor to chemoradiotherapy. The goal of the current study was to analyze the outcome of 8 patients treated at the M. D. Anderson Cancer Center, with particular focus on the histologic findings of the resected specimens.

METHODS

Patient records were reviewed for demographics, presenting symptoms, diagnostic modalities, disease stage, treatment, and outcome.

RESULTS

Two of eight patients had metastatic disease at the time of diagnosis and received combination chemotherapy. Six patients had limited stage disease. Four received combined modality treatment including esophagectomy, and two received radiotherapy only. All four patients who underwent esophagectomy had pure small cell carcinoma histology at diagnosis and received preoperative combination chemotherapy with or without radiotherapy. None of the four patients achieved a pathologic complete remission. Two patients had residual small cell carcinoma; one patient had squamous cell carcinoma and one adenocarcinoma. The median overall survival for the group of patients was 12.5 months (range, 5-57 months).

CONCLUSIONS

In selected patients with limited stage disease, surgery with curative intent should be considered as part of multimodality treatment.

Adjuvant therapy for gastric carcinoma patients in the past 15 years: a review of western and oriental trials

BACKGROUND

The early detection of gastric carcinoma is neither feasible nor practiced around the world, except on a limited basis in Japan. Thus, because gastric carcinoma is detected later in most patients throughout the world, those who undergo curative resection still remain at high risk for relapse. Adjuvant therapy therefore has a potentially important place in the treatment of these patients. It has been extensively investigated in the Orient, North America, and Europe. The authors reviewed the results of these trials to determine the current status of adjuvant therapy.

METHODS

All randomized studies published in the world literature since 1984 were reviewed. These studies were divided into those performed in the West and those performed in Asia and also by the type of therapy investigated (chemotherapy, chemoimmunotherapy, or radiotherapy). These findings were then summarized and tabulated.

RESULTS

In the process of evaluating the results of these studies, the authors uncovered some marked differences in the methodologies employed. For example, the use of no treatment control is a norm in the West, whereas a treatment control is commonly used in Asia. In addition, there is a greater emphasis on chemoimmunotherapy in Asia than in the West. Furthermore, results of Western studies suggest that postoperative adjuvant therapy is ineffective, whereas the results of the Asian trials do not give a clear indication. Despite this, most Asian patients receive postoperative or perioperative adjuvant chemoimmunotherapy.

CONCLUSIONS

Postoperative chemotherapy as an adjuvant to potentially curative resection of gastric carcinoma remains investigational despite more than 30 years of investigation in the West. Newer therapeutic combinations or strategies (preoperative chemotherapy or chemoradiotherapy) have the potential to benefit the high risk patients.

Gastric cancer and metastasis to the brain

BACKGROUND

Metastasis of gastric carcinoma to the brain is very uncommon. At The University of Texas M. D. Anderson Cancer Center (M. D. Anderson), less than 1% of patients with primary gastric carcinoma are found to have brain metastases. Little has been published regarding the evaluation and treatment of these patients. The purpose of this study was to review our experience with gastric cancer metastatic to the brain and to describe the efficacy of the treatment used.

METHODS

Between 1957 and 1997, a total of 218,690 patients were seen for evaluation of malignant tumors at M. D. Anderson. Of these patients, 3320 (1.5%) had a diagnosis of gastric cancer; however, only 24 patients (0.7%) were found to have brain metastases on imaging studies or at autopsy. We performed a retrospective review of these 24 patients and divided them into three groups on the basis of the treatment they received.

RESULTS

Group 1 included patients who received steroids alone (16 mg of dexamethasone, daily). Group 2 patients received 3000 cGy of whole-brain radiation therapy (WBRT) delivered in 10 fractions in addition to steroids. Group 3 patients were managed with surgical resection, WBRT, and steroids. There were 18 male and 6 female patients, with a median age of 53 years. The most common presenting symptoms were weakness, difficulty with balance, and headache. Of the 19 patients diagnosed antemortem, 11 patients developed neurological symptoms after the primary diagnosis of gastric carcinoma, whereas 8 patients developed neurological symptoms before the diagnosis of gastric cancer. Forty-five percent of patients had a single brain metastasis, whereas 55% had multiple lesions. All patients had systemic disease, with bone, liver, and lung involvement seen in 46%, 42%, and 29%, respectively. Nineteen of 24 patients received treatment after diagnosis of brain metastases. Four patients received steroids only (group 1), 11 patients received WBRT and steroids (group 2), and 4 patients were treated with surgery, WBRT, and steroids (group 3). Median survival was approximately 2 months for patients in groups 1 and 2, whereas group 3 patients had a median survival of slightly greater than I year.

CONCLUSIONS

Our results suggest that the overall prognosis of patients with brain metastases from gastric cancer is extremely poor (median survival, 9 weeks). WBRT, as an adjuvant to steroid treatment, was not effective in improving outcome in our series. In selected patients, most of whom were relatively young and had less advanced systemic disease, surgical resection followed by WBRT was associated with relatively long survival times (median survival, 54 weeks).

Adjuvant therapy for gastric carcinoma: closing out the century

Gastric cancer is often advanced and unresectable at diagnosis. Even when a curative resection is possible, the 5-year survival rate for patients with T2 or higher tumors is less than 50%. Survival rates are even lower if lymph node metastases are present at surgery. Many phase III trials of adjuvant therapy have been conducted around the world during the past 4 decades, but their interpretation varies in the East and West. In the West, postoperative treatment modalities have not proven to be superior to postsurgical observation alone. Thus, at present, the routine use of postoperative therapy should be discouraged. In the Orient, however, routine use of postoperative chemotherapy and/or immunotherapy is common after a surgical procedure. Further investigations that correlate treatment response with molecular markers are needed. Improved clinical trial designs, including better preoperative staging, standardized surgical techniques, inclusion of adequate numbers of patients, and the continued use of a surgery-alone control group, are essential. In addition, the incorporation of newer active agents, radiotherapy, and new strategies, such as preoperative therapy and selection of patients based on tumor biology, would result in much-needed advances. Less toxic approaches with novel mechanisms of action, such as antiangiogenesis therapy, tumor vaccines, monoclonal antibodies, and matrix metalloproteinase inhibitors, also hold promise.

Selective hepatic arterial chemoembolization for liver metastases in patients with carcinoid tumor or islet cell carcinoma

In many patients with liver metastases from islet cell or carcinoid tumor, vascular occlusion therapy results in prolonged control of symptoms, biochemical response, and also tumor regression. Chemotherapy agents were added to evaluate safety and efficacy. Thirty patients with liver metastases from either carcinoid tumor or islet cell carcinoma underwent sequential vascular occlusion therapy combined with chemotherapeutic agents. In patients with carcinoid tumor, a combination of cisplatin (150 mg) and doxorubicin (50 mg) was used. In patients with islet cell carcinoma, a combination of 5-fluorouracil (350 mg) and streptozotocin (1000-2000 mg) was used. Sixteen patients had carcinoid tumor and 14 had islet cell carcinoma. Biochemical response was observed in 12 of 16 (75%) carcinoid patients and 9 of 10 (90%) islet cell patients. The overall partial response rate was 37% (11/30 patients). Partial response occurred in 4 of 16 (25%) patients with carcinoid tumor and 7 of 14 (50%) with islet cell carcinoma. The median duration of partial responses was 24 months (range, 6-63+ months). The median survival of all patients was 15 months (range, 2-67+ months). No treatment-related deaths occurred. Our data suggest that the addition of these chemotherapeutic agents to vascular occlusion, although safe, has no additional benefit.

Enhanced staging and all chemotherapy preoperatively in patients with potentially resectable gastric carcinoma

PURPOSE

Patients with local-regional gastric carcinoma have a low rate of curative resection (R0) because of the advanced stage at diagnosis and suboptimal clinical staging. This study was designed to improve clinical staging with the use of laparoscopy and endoscopic ultrasonography (EUS) and to improve R0 resection rates and tolerance by delivering all chemotherapy preoperatively in patients with potentially resectable gastric carcinoma.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

All patients with histologic proof of localized adenocarcinoma of the stomach underwent a staging laparoscopy before registration. EUS was performed when feasible. The intention was to administer up to five courses of preoperative chemotherapy consisting of fluorouracil (500 mg/m(2)/d as a continuous infusion on days 1 through 5 and as a bolus on days 12 and 19), interferon alfa-2b (3 million units subcutaneously three times a week for 3 weeks), and cisplatin (15 mg/m(2)/d as a bolus on days 1 through 5). After chemotherapy, surgery was attempted to remove the primary and regional lymph nodes. Clinical response and EUS staging were correlated with surgical pathology. The feasibility of this approach, resection rates, patient survival, and patterns of failure also were assessed.

RESULTS

All 30 patients enrolled were assessed for toxicity, response, and survival. Nineteen men and 11 women were enrolled. The median number of courses delivered per patient was three (range, one to five courses). Fourteen patients (47%) received all five preoperative courses of chemotherapy. The overall clinical response rate was 34%. Twenty-nine patients (97%) underwent attempted resection. Twenty-five (83%) had an R0 resection. Two patients (7%) had no evidence of carcinoma in the surgical specimen, and three had only microscopic carcinoma (>/= 90% necrosis). Posttreatment EUS findings did not correlate well with surgical pathology. The median duration of follow-up was 30 months (range, 5 months to 65+ months). The median survival time for 30 patients, calculated by the Kaplan-Meier method, was 30 months (range, 5 months to 65+ months). There were no cases of grade 4 toxicity.

CONCLUSION

It is feasible to administer prolonged preoperative therapy in patients with potentially resectable gastric carcinoma. Enhanced staging with laparoscopy and EUS helped in proper selection of patients and better characterization of the stage.

Oral etoposide for patients with advanced adenocarcinoma of the pancreas

PURPOSE

Oral etoposide has been shown to be effective against some solid tumor types. This phase II study examined the efficacy of oral etoposide in patients with untreated advanced adenocarcinoma of the pancreas.

METHODS AND PATIENTS

Previously untreated patients with measurable unresectable or metastatic disease were eligible for inclusion in this study. They were required to have a Zubrod performance status of < or = 2 and normal hematological, renal, and hepatic functions. Written informed consent was obtained from all patients. The etoposide dose was 50 mg/m2/d given orally daily for 21 days with a 7-day rest period and was adjusted based on toxicity. Response was assessed after two courses of therapy.

RESULTS

Eighteen patients were enrolled and fourteen were evaluable for toxicity and response. Twelve patients developed progressive disease while two patients had only a minor response. The median number of courses was 2 (range, 1-4) and there were 29 total courses delivered. The median survival was 3.5 months (range, 1.6-25.9). There were no treatment-related deaths. Toxicity was moderate.

CONCLUSIONS

Oral etoposide is not effective against advanced adenocarcinoma of the pancreas.

Oral etoposide for patients with metastatic gastric adenocarcinoma

PURPOSE

Oral administration of etoposide represents a pharmacokinetic advantage over the traditional intermittent intravenous usage of this drug. This phase II trial was undertaken to determine its activity against gastric adenocarcinoma in chemotherapy-naive patients.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

Patients with measurable, unresectable, metastatic gastric carcinoma with performance status < or = 2 by Zubrod scale were eligible. Patients had to have normal liver, renal, and bone marrow functions. Written informed consent was obtained from all patients. The starting dose of etoposide was 50 mg/m2/day, given orally daily for 21 days, followed by a 7-day rest period. Oral etoposide was repeated every 28 days. Response was evaluated after two courses.

RESULTS

Twenty-eight patients were registered. The median number of courses was two (range, 1 to 12; total, 69 courses). Twenty-six patients were evaluable for response and toxicity. Five patients (19%; 95% confidence interval, 3% to 35%) achieved a partial response. The median duration of response was 3.5 months. There was no treatment-related death. Toxic effects were mild to moderate.

CONCLUSIONS

Oral etoposide is modestly active against gastric carcinoma. It is well tolerated by patients. Further studies in combination with other active agents against gastric carcinoma may be warranted.

Response to neoadjuvant chemotherapy best predicts survival after curative resection of gastric cancer

OBJECTIVE

In Western populations, long-term survival rates after curative resection of gastric cancer remain extremely poor. The lack of effective adjuvant therapy has prompted the evaluation of neoadjuvant approaches. Since 1988, we have conducted three separate phase II trials using neoadjuvant chemotherapy to treat patients with potentially resectable gastric cancer. The present study was conducted to evaluate whether response to neoadjuvant chemotherapy is predictive of survival in patients with resectable gastric cancer.

METHODS

Eighty-three patients with pathologically confirmed gastric adenocarcinoma were treated with neoadjuvant chemotherapy before planned surgical resection. Response was assessed by upper gastrointestinal series, endoscopy, computed tomography scan, and pathologic examination.

RESULTS

For the three phase II trials, clinical response rates ranged from 24% to 38%. Three patients (4%) had a complete pathologic response. Sixty-one patients (73%) underwent a curative resection. Median follow-up was 26 months. Univariate analysis revealed T stage, number of positive nodes, and response to chemotherapy to be significant predictors of overall survival. However, on multivariate analysis, response to chemotherapy was found to be the only independent prognostic factor.

CONCLUSIONS

Response to neoadjuvant chemotherapy is the single most important predictor of overall survival after neoadjuvant chemotherapy for gastric cancer. These findings support further evaluation of neoadjuvant approaches in the treatment of this disease.

Phase II study of prolonged infusion of Taxol in patients with metastatic colorectal carcinoma

PURPOSE

Taxol represents a new class of anticancer agents with activity against a wide variety of solid tumors. In preclinical systems, its cytotoxicity is schedule dependent with prolonged exposure being more effective. We studied a 120-hour infusion schedule of Taxol in patients with metastatic measurable colorectal carcinoma who had had one prior 5-FU-based chemotherapy.

METHODS

Patients with measurable metastatic colorectal carcinoma were eligible. Patients had to have normal liver, renal, and bone marrow functions. Written informed consent was obtained from all patients. The starting dose of Taxol was 150 mg/m2 infused over 120-hours in the outpatient setting. Taxol was repeated every 21 days.

RESULTS

Fifteen patients were registered. Among 14 evaluable patients, we did not observe any complete or partial response. Major toxicity included myelosuppression and mucositis. There was no treatment-related death.

CONCLUSION

Taxol administered by this schedule was found ineffective in patients with metastatic colorectal carcinoma who had previously received one 5-FU-based chemotherapy.

Chemotherapy for gastric carcinoma: new and old options

Although gastric carcinoma is an uncommon disease in North America, its incidence is alarmingly high in Asia, South America, Eastern Europe, and countries of the former Soviet Union. Screening for gastric carcinoma is performed only on a limited basis in Japan; in the rest of the world, therefore, patients often present with advanced disease at the time of diagnosis. Chemotherapy, radiotherapy, or both rarely cure patients with unresectable or metastatic carcinoma; therapy thus remains palliative for such patients. Chemotherapy seems to be beneficial, however, and continues to evolve in the treatment of patients with advanced gastric carcinoma. Four small randomized trials demonstrated survival and quality-of-life benefits for patients who received chemotherapy compared with those who received best supportive care. In the past 20 years, several "old" drugs have been studied either alone or in combination to treat this disease; and new active drugs have been identified. Recently, quality of life, convenience, and cost-containment have been emphasized in the treatment of cancer. This has increased interest in oral agents. At present, several promising oral 5-fluorouracil prodrugs are being studied in clinical trials. This article summarizes current developments in the treatment of advanced gastric carcinoma.