Taxol(Paclitaxel),UFT and Leucovorin in Patients With Advanced Gastric Cancer

Since 1982,cancer has been the leading cause of death in Taiwan. In particular,gastric cancer is the fourth leading cause of death in male cancer patients and the sixth for female patients in 2000,accounting for an estimated 2,374 deaths. In recent years, the treatment of gastric cancer patients has gradually been improving due to advances in early diagnosis and surgical techniques. Although chemotherapy and radiation therapy have been used in either the adjuvant or palliative setting, their values are still limited due to their unacceptable toxicity or inadequate efficiency.

Inclusion criteria

• At least 18 years old
• Patients with histologically confirmed gastric adenocarcinoma, defined as locally advanced unresectable or metastatic or recurrent disease
• Patients with at least one measurable lesion
• ECOG performance status of 0,1 or 2
• Patients with no prior chemotherapy and radiotherapy for metastatic disease (patients who have received and completed prior adjuvant chemotherapy at least 6 months prior to study enrollment may be enrolled into the study, prior taxane chemotherapy should be excluded)
• Patients with physiological functions (bone marrow, heart, liver, kidney, etc.) meeting the following criteria: WBC >4000/mm3, ANC >1500/mm3, PLT >100,000/mm3, Hb >9.0g/dL, ALT<3 times the ULN (<5 times the ULN for liver metastasis cases), Total bilirubin <1.5mg/dL, Creatinine <the upper limit of normal
• Accessible for treatment and follow-up
• Give written informed consent
• Women of child bearing potential must have a negative plasma or urine pregnancy test within 72 hours prior to start of the study medication

Exclusion criteria

• Patients who received surgery within 14 days prior to enrollment
• Patients with CNS metastasis
• History of hypersensitivity related to the administration of polyoxyethylated-castor-oil (cremophor EL)-containing preparation (e.g. cyclosporin,etc.) or hardened-castor-oil-containing preparation (e.g. vitamin preparation for injection,etc.)
• Patients with a history of severe hypersensitivity
• Active infectious symptoms
• Patients with active gastrointestinal bleeding, intestinal obstruction or other situation that dose not allow oral intake of medication
• Patients with ascites that adversely affects performance status
• Pre-existing CTC Grade 2 or greater neuropathy (motor or sensory)
• Pregnant or nursing females
• Patients who have participated in other clinical trials within 30 days prior to the first dose of the study drug