Adjuvant Chemotherapy with S-1 plus Cisplatin for Patients with Stage III Gastric Cancer After Curative Resection.

BACKGROUND/AIM: The aim of this study was to investigate the efficacy and safety of S-1 plus low-dose cisplatin for stage IIIB and stage IIIC gastric cancer patients after D2 gastrectomy.

PATIENTS AND METHODS: The study group comprised of 52 patients. In the first cycle, S-1 (80 mg/m(2)) was administered daily for 3 weeks, followed by 2 weeks of rest; low-dose cisplatin (10 mg) was administered on days 1-5 and 8-12. In the second and third cycles, S-1 was administered alone.

RESULTS: Overall survival was 47.0 months for stage IIIB patients and 24.0 months for stage IIIC (p=0.038). Disease-free survival was 17.0 and 16.0 months respectively (p=0.739). Grade 3 or 4 adverse events occurred in 20 patients (38.5%). Multivariate analysis identified stage IIIC as independent prognostic factor for survival.

CONCLUSION: Our treatment was manageable and safe for stage IIIB or stage IIIC patients. Stage IIIC gastric cancer portends an especially poor prognosis following D2 gastrectomy.