ECF can be used as adjuvant treatment for XXXX : A two-institutions experience.

@entity1 @entity390 @entity417 @entity882 @entity1259 @entity900 @entity448 @entity391 @entity1150 @entity281 @entity3 @entity204 @entity420 @entity1487
UNASSIGNED: 4251 Background: Surgery is the cornerstone of curative therapy for operable @entity420 ( @entity420 ), but the risk of recurrence is high in T3-4 and/or N+ disease. We report our experience using in the adjuvant setting the ECF regimen, a cytotoxic combination effective and widely used in advanced disease. METHODS: Between November 1996 and February 2003, 45 @entity1 with @entity420 who underwent curative surgery were treated with ECF ( @entity1259 50 mg/m2 and @entity900 60 mg/m2 on day 1, @entity1487 200 mg/m2/day as a continous infusion) every 3 weeks for 4-6 months. The median age was 59 years (range 32-74), and PS was         1 in all cases. Six @entity1 had stage UICC IB, 11 stage II, 11 stage IIIA, 6 stage IIIB and 11 stage IV (T4 and/or N3). Surgery was partial gastrectomy in 51% and total gastrectomy in 44% of cases; D2 resection was performed in all cases. RESULTS: The mean number of courses per @entity1 was 4,7 (range 2 - 6). Delay of chemotherapy was necessary in 33% of cases; dose reductions were applied in 42%. Adverse events due to venous port device were 18%. At a median follow-up of 59,6 months, the median overall survival was 50,1 months. Relapse occurred in 24 @entity1 (53%). One @entity1 had local recurrence, distant @entity3 were seen in 23 @entity1 . Twenty-one @entity1 died of progressive disease. Chemotherapy was well tolerated, the main grade 3/4 toxicities being: neutropenia 47%, @entity448 11%, @entity390 and @entity391 6%, @entity417 and @entity882 4%. Port and @entity1150 were seen in 6%. No grade 3/4 @entity281 occurred, and there where no treatment-related @entity204 . CONCLUSIONS: ECF is safe and feasible in @entity1 with locally advanced @entity420 . The survival of our @entity1 compares favorably with historical cohorts, supporting the possibility of using ECF in the adjuvant setting. Randomised studies are needed to confirm this hypothesis. No significant financial relationships to disclose.
