Efficacy and Side Effects of Combined Capecitabine Plus Intensity Modulated Radiotherapy as an Effective Adjuvant Therapy for Gastric Cancers.

This study aims to evaluate the clinical outcomes and the toxicities associated with intensity modulated radiotherapy (IMRT) administered in combination with capecitabine for gastric cancer. This study was conducted between July 2009 and October 2011, and included 31 patients (23 female and eight male patients; mean age: 57 years old) with pathologically confirmed gastric cancer (pathological staging T3 or T4 or positive lymph node). All patients underwent D2 surgery and adjuvant chemoradiotherapy, followed by combined treatment with IMRT and capecitabine. All patients received follow-up examinations every 3-6 months by physical examination, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), and assays for tumor markers. The Kaplan-Meier method was used to calculate the rates for locoregional control (LRC) and disease-free survival (DFS). Only two patients could not complete the planned treatment regimen. Patients treated with IMRT and capecitabine tolerated their treatment well, and displayed few significant side effects. The mean follow-up, disease-free survival (DFS) and survival times were 33.0, 27.5, and 32.9 months, respectively.This study confirmed that the combined administration of IMRT and capecitabine can be used as an adjuvant therapy for gastric cancer patients, with few toxic side effects.