06 Nov Gastric Cancer: Second Line Chemotherapy
MedicalResearch.com Interview with:
Dr. Shuichi Hironaka, MD
Clinical Trial Promotion Department, Chiba Cancer Center
666-2 Nitona-cho Chuo-ku Chiba-shi
Chiba, 260-8717 Japan
MedicalResearch.com: What are the main findings of the study?
Dr. Hironaka: This is the first randomized phase III trial comparing paclitaxel and irinotecan in second-line chemotherapy for advanced gastric cancer. This study showed that no statistically significant difference was observed between paclitaxel and irinotecan for overall survival. However, both are reasonable second-line treatment options for advanced gastric cancer.
MedicalResearch.com: What should clinicians and patients take away from your report?
Dr. Hironaka: Second-line chemotherapy is recommended for advanced gastric cancer with good performance status. If gastric cancer patient without severe peritoneal metastasis, irinotecan and paclitaxel are good treatment options.
MedicalResearch.com: What recommendations do you have for future research as a result of this study?
Dr. Hironaka: Palitaxel or irinotecan will be used as a platform for next randomized trial investigating additional benefits of molecular targeting agents in second-line chemotherapy for advanced gastric cancer.
Citation:
JCO JCO.2012.48.5805; published online on November 4, 2013;
Last Updated on November 6, 2013 by Marie Benz MD FAAD