Background: Paclitaxel has shown promise against advanced gastric cancer and associated malignant ascites with non-measurable lesions. In order to evaluate the therapeutic effect of paclitaxel against malignant gastric ascites, a prospective phase II clinical trial was designed according to our previously proposed criteria represented by the clinical benefit response in gastric cancer (CBR-GC) criteria and the five-point method (5PM).
Methods: Patients with advanced gastric cancer with malignant ascites were treated with 1-h intravenous (i.v.) infusions of 80 mg/m² of paclitaxel weekly over a 3-week cycle on days 1, 8, and 15, followed by 1 week of rest. Therapeutic responses were measured according to the CBR-GC criteria and the 5PM.
Results: The CBR-GC criteria showed improved ascites volume and functional status in 39.1% of patients. A positive CBR-GC response in abdominal girth was seen in 31.3% of patients, and this was significantly correlated with the 5PM-estimated change in ascites volume (p < 0.001). The median number of treatment cycles was 3 (range 1-12). The most common non-hematological toxicity was anorexia, in 22.2% of patients.
Conclusion: Weekly i.v. paclitaxel is a safe and effective chemotherapeutic regimen based on validated CBR-CG criteria.