A Modified Epirubicin and Oxaliplatin Plus Capecitabine (EOX) Regimen as a Second- Line Therapy in Patients with Advanced Gastric Cancer

OBJECTIVE: We aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of an mEOX (modified epirubicin, oxaliplatin plus capecitabine) regimen as second line therapy after failure of mDCF (modified docetaxel, cisplatin plus fluorouracil). METHODS: Gastic cancer patients for whom first-line therapy was unsuccessful and who subsequently received mEOX (epirubicin 50 mg/m(2) on day 1, oxaliplatin 85 mg/m² day 1 and capecitabine twice-daily dose of 625 mg/ m(2), p.o. for 2 weeks) every 3 weeks until disease progression or unacceptable toxicity, were retrospectively analyzed. RESULTS: The study population comprised 129 cases with a median age of 55 years (range= 27-78), the majority being male (76 %). Most (75.2%) had ≥ 2 sites of metastasis. The median number of chemotherapy courses was five (range= 2–9). Forty-nine achieved a partial response and 33 showed stable disease, resulting in a ORR (overall response rate) of 38% and a DCR (disease control rate) of 63.6%. The most frequent features of grade 3-4 hematological and non-hematological toxicity were neutropenia (8.5%) and nausea/vomiting (5.4%). None of the patients suffered death due to toxicity. The median PFS was 4.7 months (95% CI, 4.1–5.3) and the OS was 7.4 months (95% CI, 6.3–8.5). On multivariate analysis, age ≥ 60 years and ECOG performance status (0-1) were independent prognostic factors affecting PFS and OS. CONSLUSIONS: In advanced gastric cancer patients, who progress after first line chemotherapy and have an ECOG performance status of 0-1, mEOX is a well tolerated triple regimen associated with a promising OS and PFS.