TITLE:
Intravenous Fluorouracil versus Oral Capecitabine: Postoperative Chemoradiation for Gastric Cancer
AUTHORS:
H. Abbas, Shimaa Ahmed, Ahmed A. S. Salem, Mohamed Abou Elmagd Salem, Mahmoud Hussin, Wessam A. El Sherief
KEYWORDS:
Fluorouracil, Capecitabine, Chemoradiation, Postoporative, Gastric Cancer
JOURNAL NAME:
Journal of Cancer Therapy,
Vol.6 No.11,
October
8,
2015
ABSTRACT: Purpose: Aim of this prospective, phase
III trial was to compare the efficacy and toxicity of intravenous fluorouracil and
oral capecitabine when given concurrently with radiation in adjuvant sitting for
adenocarcinoma of the stomach after gastrectomy with D2 resection. Patients and
Method: The study included 60 patients having histologically proven adenocarcinoma
of the stomach or gastroesophageal junction; stage T2-4 N0-3 M0 after gastrectomy
with D2 lymph node dissection. Eligible patients were randomly assigned to receive
adjuvant radiotherapy concurrently with intravenous fluorouracil [arm A] or oral
capecitabine [arm B]. Results: Ten patients cannot complete their whole treatment
course because of either progressive [4 patients; 2 arm A and 2 arm B] or G 3 toxicity
[1 patient] or refuse to complete their treatment [5 patients; 3 arm A and 2 arm
B]. Patients received fluorouracil have significant increase grade 3 or 4 hematological
[neutropenia] and gastrointestinal (diarrhoea, anorexia, and vomiting). During a median follow-up period of 24 months,
the 2-year disease free and overall survivals in this study were 60% and 63.3%,
for groups A and B respectively,
while overall survival were 63.3% and 70% for groups A and B respectively without significant differences.
Conclusion: Oral capecitabine concurrently with radiation therapy has comparable
efficacy and favourable toxicity profile when compared to infusion fluorouracil
as postoperative adjuvant therapy for gastric adenocarcinoma.