Cetuximab plus docetaxel-cisplatin (DC) as first-line treatment for locally advanced or metastatic gastric cancer: Preliminary results of a phase II study

Abstract

e15592 Background: Based on promising published data, this multicenter, phase II study was initiated to investigate a combined treatment using DC and cetuximab in the first-line setting for patients with gastric cancer. Methods: Patients aged 18–75 years with stage III (T4, nonresectable) or stage IV gastric cancer, ECOG performance status (PS) ≤2, and life expectancy ≥3 months were recruited to receive cetuximab (400 mg/m2 on day 1 then 250 mg/m2 q1w) and DC (D 75 mg/m2 and C 75 mg/m2; both as 1-h infusions on day 1 and then q3w). Treatment was stopped in the event of disease progression, intolerable toxicity, or consent withdrawal. Tumor staging was performed after cycle 3 and then every 12 weeks. The primary endpoint was overall response rate and secondary endpoints included time to progression, overall survival and toxicity. Planned accrual was 79 patients. A per-protocol interim response analysis was planned for the initial 20 evaluable patients. Results: Preliminary data are available for 30 patients; median age 64 [range: 40–73] years; median ECOG PS 1 [range: 0–2]; adenocarcinoma 87%. Median cycles administered were 3 [range: 1–14] and the median follow-up was 1.63 months. The overall response rate was 27.3% (complete response, n=1; partial response, n=5). Stable disease was observed in 10 patients, and disease progression in 6 patients. The most relevant NCI-CTC grade 3–4 hematologic events per patient were leukopenia and neutropenia (73%), anemia (13%), and febrile neutropenia (10%). Major grade 3–4 nonhematologic toxicities were nausea (30%), vomiting (20%), diarrhea (13%), acne (13%), and fatigue (13%). Conclusions: DC and cetuximab were well tolerated and resulted in promising response rates and a predictable toxicity profile. The study is ongoing. No significant financial relationships to disclose.

A Review of Docetaxel: Its Use in the Treatment of Gastric Cancer

“…The same cetuximab plus docetaxel-cisplatin schedule will be further evaluated in another ongoing phase II study. 68 Preliminary results are similar to those reported by Pinto et al 66…”