A recent overview of chemotherapy for advanced stomach cancer in Japan.

This paper reviews the recent chemotherapy regimens performed in Japan for advanced stomach cancer. Results from the use of single agents, combination chemotherapy and arterial infusion are presented. The overall response rate to either single or combination therapy was 30-40%. The effectiveness of chemotherapy in patients with metastatic disease was dependent on the site of metastases. The overall duration of survival ranged from 2 to 6 months. Several new approaches to treatment are discussed.