Chloroxoquinoline in combination with epirubicin, cisplatin and 5-fluorouracil in metastatic gastric cancer.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND/AIMS: The aim of this study was to evaluate the efficacy and tolerability of combination chemotherapy with epirubicin, cisplatin, 5-fluorouracil (ECF regimen), and Chloroxoquinoline in patients with metastatic gastric cancer. METHODOLOGY: Twenty-two patients with histologically confirmed metastatic gastric adenocarcinoma were treated with a combination of epirubicin 50 mg/m2 (day 1), cisplatin 60 mg/m2 (day 1), 5-fluorouracil 500 mg/m2 (days 1 to 5), and Chloroxoquinoline 400 mg (days 1 to 21), with the cycle repeated every three weeks. RESULTS: Twenty patients were evaluable for response. One case of (5%) complete response, seven of (35%) partial response, nine (45%) of stable disease, and three (15%) of progressive disease were observed, giving an overall treatment response rate of 40%. Median survival time was 9.4 months, median progression-free survival was 6.1 months, and the 1-year survival rate was 25%. Both hematologic and non-hemotologic toxicities were well tolerated and no treatment-related deaths occurred. In patients who received Chloroxoquinoline maintenance monotherapy after six cycles of the combination regimen, progression-free survival was nine months. CONCLUSION: The combination regimen demonstrated comparable efficacy and acceptable safety profiles in patients with metastatic gastric cancer. Chloroxoquinoline maintenance monotherapy has a tendency to increase progression-free survival.