Aims
Gastric cancer with peritoneal involvement has a poor prognosis. Intraperitoneal (IP) paclitaxel has shown promising results in these patients. However, this approach has only been studied in the Asian population, and in combination with S‐1. We investigated the maximum tolerated dose of IP paclitaxel, with a standard chemotherapy combination, in the Australian population.
Methods
The study of the population included metastatic human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2) negative gastric adenocarcinoma with peritoneal involvement. Treatment included six 21‐day cycles of cisplatin (80 mg/m2 IV, day 1) plus capecitabine (1000 mg/m2 PO BD, days 1–14) plus IP paclitaxel (days 1 and 8). IP paclitaxel doses for cohort 1–3 were 10, 20, and 30 mg/m2, respectively, in a 3 + 3 standard dose‐escalation design.
Results
Fifteen patients were enrolled of which 6 were female and the median age was 63. Two patients developed dose‐limiting toxicities. No grade 4/5 toxicities were recorded. The maximum tolerated dose was not reached. Therefore, as defined by the study protocol, the recommended phase‐2 dose for IP paclitaxel was determined to be 30 mg/m2. The 12‐month survival rate was 46.7%, and the median survival was 11.5 months (interquartile range [IQR]: 15.3–6.9).
Conclusions
IP paclitaxel is safe in combination with cisplatin and capecitabine and the recommended phase‐2 dose is 30 mg/m2.