Objective: To compare the efficacy and tolerability of the regimen FOLFOX [1eucovorin (LV), 5-fluorouracil (5-Fu) and oxaliplatin] and the regimen PLF (Paclitaxel, leucovorin and 5-Fu) for treatment of advanced gastric adenocarcinoma.
Methods: We retrospectively studied the clinical data of 132 patients with stage IV gastric adenocarcinoma treated by FOLFOX (group A, n=60) or PLF (group B, n=72). The tumor response rate, toxicity, time to progress (TTP) and overall survival (OS) were compared between the two groups.
Results: A total of 544 cycles were administrated in these patients. The overall response rate was 35.0% with FOLFOX regimen and 41.7% with PLF regimen, showing no significant difference between them (P>0.05). The TTP was 6.13-/+1.26 (95%CI, 3.65-8.61) months in group A, and 5.92-/+0.49 (95%CI, 4.97-6.87) months in group B; the OS was 10.67-/+1.55 (95%CI, 7.63-13.71) months in group A, and 10.8-/+3.07 (95%CI, 4.78-16.82) months in group B. Neither TTP or OS showed significant differences between the two groups (P>0.05). Five patients in group A (8.33%) and 8 in group B (11.11%) had grade 3 and 4 leukopenia. The non-hematological toxicities were mostly mild, including nausea, vomiting, stomatitis, diarrhea and alopecia. The main adverse effects were grade 1 or 2 sensory neuritis in FOLFOX group, and alopecia in PLF group, without significant difference between the two groups (P<0.05).
Conclusion: Both FOLFOX and PLF can serve as effective first-line treatment of stage IV gastric adenocarcinoma with good tolerance.