The Pharmaceutical Journal
Vol 270 No 7253 p818
14 June 2003

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Docetaxel improves survival of patients with stomach cancer

Patients with advanced stomach cancer have improved tumour regression rates and are likely to live longer if docetaxel (Taxotere) is added to their chemotherapy regimen.

Results from an interim study analysis, presented at the annual meeting of the American Society of Clinical Oncology, show that average time to progression for patients treated with cisplatin, 5-flurouracil and docetaxel is 5.2 months compared with 3.7 months for patients treated with cisplatin and 5-FU alone (P=0.0008). Response rate for patients in the docetaxel group was also better (39 per cent versus 23 per cent, P=0.012), as was median survival (10.2 months versus 8.5 months, P=0.0064).

"Incorporation of docetaxel ... may be the most important advance in the treatment of stomach cancer in the last 20 years," said Dr Jaffer Ajani, University of Texas, Houston, who presented the results.

Patients treated with docetaxel had a higher incidence of neutropenia.

The Journal attended the 39th annual meeting of the American Society of Clinical Oncology, held in Chicago, Illinois, from 31 May until 3 June, courtesy of Eli Lilly. It was attended by more than 25,000 cancer specialists