Background: To investigate the efficacy and toxicity of FOLFOX4 regimen and LV5Fu2 regimen in patients with advanced gastric adenocarcinoma after curative gastrectomy.
Methods: Eighty patients with gastric adenocarcinoma after curative gastrectomy were randomized to receive a 2-h infusion of leucovorin (LV; 200mg/m(2)/d) followed by a 5-fluorouracil (5-FU) bolus (400mg/m(2)/d) and 22-h infusion (600 mg/m(2)/d) for 2 consecutive days every 2 weeks, either alone or together with oxaliplatin 85 mg/m(2) as a 2-h infusion on day 1 (FOLFOX4 regimen or LV5Fu2 regimen). The observation points were recurrence free survival, overall survival and toxicity of the two groups.
Results: All patients had received curative gastrectomy (R0 resection) before received either of the two regimens. The 3-year recurrence free survival rate and the 3-year overall survival rate in FOLFOX4 group were all significantly better than those in the control group (median, 30.0 months vs. 16.0 months, P<0.05; 36.0 months vs. 28.0 months, P<0.05). COX multivariant analysis was used to evaluate the prognostic factors and oxaliplatin was found to be the independent prognostic factor and could improve the survival rate in FOLFOX4 group. Grade 3/4 peripheral neuropathy occurred in 19% in FOLFOX4 group. There was no significant difference between the two groups in neutropenia, leukopenia, anemia, gastrointestinal reaction and so on. Three patients in each group were lost to follow up during treatment.
Conclusion: FOLFOX4 regimen showed good efficacy and an acceptable safety profile for patients with advanced gastric adenocarcinoma after curative gastrectomy compared with the control group. It may prove to be a suitable alterative regimen in this indication.
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