OBJECTIVE: The aim of this prospective study was to evaluate the feasibility and safety of adjuvant S-1 plus docetaxel in patients with stage III gastric cancer. METHODS: We enrolled 53 patients with pathological stage III gastric cancer who underwent D2 gastrectomy. They received oral S-1 (80 mg/m(2)/day) administration for 2 consecutive weeks and intravenous docetaxel (40 mg/m(2)) on day 1, repeated every 3 weeks (1 cycle). The treatment was started within 45 days after surgery and repeated for 4 cycles, followed by S-1 monotherapy (4 weeks on, 2 weeks off) until 1 year after surgery. The feasibility of the 4 cycles of chemotherapy, followed by S-1 administration, was evaluated. RESULTS: A total of 42 patients (79.2%, 95% CI 65.9-82.9) tolerated the planned 4 cycles of treatment with S-1 and docetaxel, and 34 patients (64.2%, 95% CI 49.8-76.9) completed subsequent S-1 monotherapy for 1 year. Grade 4 neutropenia was observed in 28% and grade 3 febrile neutropenia in 9% of the patients, while grade 3 nonhematological toxicities were relatively low. CONCLUSIONS: Adjuvant S-1 plus docetaxel therapy is feasible and has only moderate toxicity in stage III gastric cancer patients. We believe that this regimen will be a candidate for future phase III trials seeking the optimal adjuvant chemotherapy for stage III gastric cancer patients.
OBJECTIVE: The aim of this prospective study was to evaluate the feasibility and safety of adjuvant S-1 plus docetaxel in patients with stage III gastric cancer. METHODS: We enrolled 53 patients with pathological stage III gastric cancer who underwent D2 gastrectomy. They received oral S-1 (80 mg/m(2)/day) administration for 2 consecutive weeks and intravenous docetaxel (40 mg/m(2)) on day 1, repeated every 3 weeks (1 cycle). The treatment was started within 45 days after surgery and repeated for 4 cycles, followed by S-1 monotherapy (4 weeks on, 2 weeks off) until 1 year after surgery. The feasibility of the 4 cycles of chemotherapy, followed by S-1 administration, was evaluated. RESULTS: A total of 42 patients (79.2%, 95% CI 65.9-82.9) tolerated the planned 4 cycles of treatment with S-1 and docetaxel, and 34 patients (64.2%, 95% CI 49.8-76.9) completed subsequent S-1 monotherapy for 1 year. Grade 4 neutropenia was observed in 28% and grade 3 febrile neutropenia in 9% of the patients, while grade 3 nonhematological toxicities were relatively low. CONCLUSIONS: Adjuvant S-1 plus docetaxel therapy is feasible and has only moderate toxicity in stage III gastric cancerpatients. We believe that this regimen will be a candidate for future phase III trials seeking the optimal adjuvant chemotherapy for stage III gastric cancerpatients.