5-Fluorouracil, epirubicin, and BCNU (FEB) in advanced measurable gastric cancer.

Forty-eight patients with advanced measurable gastric cancer were treated with the three-drug combination of 5-fluorouracil, epirubicin, and BCNU (FEB). The response rate was 42% in 45 evaluable patients. There were five complete responders (11%). The median duration of response was 13 months, and the median survival of all patients was 9.2 months. Toxicity was generally mild to moderate. No instances of congestive heart failure were recorded. These results indicate that patients with metastatic gastric cancer can be effectively palliated with FEB chemotherapy.