Initial Experience with Nab-Paclitaxel for Patients with Advanced Gastric Cancer: Safety and Efficacy.

BACKGROUND: Taxane-based chemotherapy is useful for peritoneal dissemination control in advanced/recurrent gastric cancer; however, insufficient relative dose intensity (RDI) may preclude disease control achievement. Nab-paclitaxel, with high tumour permeability, is a promising second- or later-line treatment.

PATIENTS AND METHODS: We retrospectively evaluated the clinical safety and efficacy of nab-paclitaxel for advanced/recurrent gastric cancer patients treated between April 2013 and December 2015. The response rate, RDI and survival outcomes were assessed.

RESULTS: Of 14 evaluated patients, 4 achieved partial response. Overall response and the disease control rates were 28.5% and 64.2%, respectively. Nine patients developed peritoneal metastasis; their overall response and disease control rate were 22.2% and 66.6%. Patients with high RDI (≥80%) showed longer progression-free and overall survival than those with low RDI (≤80%) (11.8 vs. 4.0 months, p=0.02; and 14.3 vs. 8.2 months, p=0.03, respectively).

CONCLUSION: Nab-paclitaxel, at an RDI ≥80%, was safe and beneficial for these patients.