[Adjuvant capecitabine and oxaliplatin for gastric cancer after D2 gastrectomy (CLASSIC): Chinese subgroup analysis].

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the efficacy and safety profile of XELOX (capecitabine/oxaliplatin) in patients with locally advanced gastric cancer who underwent curative D2 resection in China. METHODS: This is a subgroup analysis of Chinese patients in the capecitabine and oxaliplatin adjuvant study in stomach cancer (CLASSIC study), which was a randomised, open-label, multicentre, parallel-group, phase III( study in the Asia-Pacific region. A total of 100 gastric cancer patients who received curative D2 gastrectomy were enrolled in this study and were randomly assigned to either XELOX group (oral capecitabine combined with intravenous oxaliplatin chemotherapy) or the control group (surgery alone). This study aims to compare the 3-year disease-free between the two groups. RESULTS: Subgroup analysis showed that 3-year DFS rate were 78% and 56% in XELOX and control group, respectively. The risk of relapse in XELOX group was reduced by 59% (HR=0.41, 95%CI:0.20-0.85, P=0.013), compared with the control group. The 3-year overall survival rate were 78% and 66% in XELOX and control group, with no statistically significant difference (HR=0.55, 95%CI:0.26-1.16, P=0.110). CONCLUSION: Adjuvant XELOX chemotherapy following D2 gastrectomy may improve the survival in patients with advanced gastric cancer in China.

Electro-acupuncture to prevent prolonged postoperative ileus: a randomized clinical trial.

AIM: To examine whether acupuncture can prevent prolonged postoperative ileus (PPOI) after intraperitoneal surgery for colon cancer. METHODS: Ninety patients were recruited from the Fudan University Cancer Hospital, Shanghai, China. After surgery, patients were randomized to receive acupuncture (once daily, starting on postoperative day 1, for up to six consecutive days) or usual care. PPOI was defined as an inability to pass flatus or have a bowel movement by 96 h after surgery. The main outcomes were time to first flatus, time to first bowel movement, and electrogastroenterography. Secondary outcomes were quality of life (QOL) measures, including pain, nausea, insomnia, abdominal distension/fullness, and sense of well-being. RESULTS: No significant differences in PPOI on day 4 (P = 0.71) or QOL measures were found between the groups. There were also no group differences when the data were analyzed by examining those whose PPOI had resolved by day 5 (P = 0.69) or day 6 (P = 0.88). No adverse events related to acupuncture were reported. CONCLUSION: Acupuncture did not prevent PPOI and was not useful for treating PPOI once it had developed in this population.