Phase II trial of neoadjuvant chemotherapy with intraperitoneal paclitaxel, S-1, and intravenous cisplatin and paclitaxel for stage IIIA or IIIB gastric cancer.

BACKGROUND: We carried out a phase II trial to evaluate the feasibility and efficacy of neoadjuvant chemotherapy comprising a single intraperitoneal administration of paclitaxel, followed by intravenous administrations of paclitaxel and cisplatin with S-1 for clinical stage III gastric cancer.

METHODS: Patients with potentially resectable gastric cancer were eligible. A laparoscopic survey was performed to confirm CY0 and P0. Intraperitoneal paclitaxel (60 mg/m 2 ) was administered, followed by systemic chemotherapy. Surgery was performed after two cycles of chemotherapy. The primary endpoint was the response rate of chemotherapy. Secondary endpoints were adverse events, pathological response rate, and overall survival rate.

RESULTS: Twenty patients were enrolled. Planned cycles were completed in all patients. Grade 3/4 leukopenia and grade 3/4 neutropenia were observed in four (20%) and seven (35%) patients, respectively. The overall response rate was 70% (partial response: 14, stable disease: 5, progressive disease: 1). All patients underwent R0 gastrectomy with D2 lymph-node dissection, with no surgery-related deaths. The pathological response rate was 65% (13 of 20). The 3- and 5-year overall survival rates were 90.0% and 77.1%, respectively.

CONCLUSIONS: Neoadjuvant chemotherapy including intraperitoneal paclitaxel followed by sequential intravenous paclitaxel and cisplatin with S-1 for resectable advanced gastric cancer is feasible and effective.