Randomized comparison of 5-FU alone or combined with mitomycin and cytarabine (MFC) in the treatment of advanced gastric cancer.

In a prospective randomized study, 53 patients with advanced gastric cancer previously untreated by chemotherapy were randomly assigned to treatment with 5-FU alone or combined with mitomycin and cytarabine (MFC). The response rate with MFC was higher (28%) than with 5-FU alone (21%). The difference, however, was not statistically significant. Median response duration was practically identical with 5-FU (16 weeks) and MFC (17 weeks). There was no difference in median survival between the two groups (39 and 43 weeks, respectively).