[New combination therapy with FTM [5-FU, pirarubicin (THP) and MMC] for treatment of inoperable advanced gastric cancer].

Clinical usefulness of a new combination FTM therapy consisting of 5-FU, Pirarubicin (THP) and MMC for the treatment of advanced gastric cancers was investigated. 5-FU, THP or MMC was administered at a dose of 600 mg/m2 on day 1, 8, 22 and 29, 30 mg/m2 on days 1 and 22, and 10 mg/m2 on day one only of each course, respectively. Eighteen patients with inoperable advanced gastric cancer were treated with FTM. All drugs were investigated by intravenously by one shot. The tumor response rate was 50% [9 of 18 showed PR]. The survival rate was higher in responders than in nonresponders (18.1% vs 11.1%) (p < 0.05). Side effects in the gastrointestinal tract were minimal. Cardiotoxicity and nephrotoxicity were not detected, but myelosuppression was prominent in most cases. G-CSF was given in sixteen patients (88%), and platelet transfusion was performed in two patients (11%). New combination FTM therapy is an effective treatment regimen even for advanced inoperable gastric cancer.