Purpose: A feasibility study was conducted to investigate whether synchronized intra-aortic chemotherapy (SIAC) could be a safe method, and improve quality of life of far advanced gastric cancer patients with tumor-related symptoms.
Patients and Methods: Sixty-seven patients disordered their performance status with stage IV or recurrent gastric cancer localized to the abdominal cavity were entered in the study. SIAC regimen consisted of bolus intra-aortic injection (IA) of cisplatin 6 mg/m²/body and methotrexate 6 mg/m²/body per day on days 1 to 5 in the morning, followed by continuous IA of 5-fluorouracil 150 mg/m²/body/day for 5 days, and systemic infusion of l-leucovorin 15 mg/m²/body/day on days 2 to 6 at 8 PM, repeated every 3 weeks for the first three courses and every 1-3 months after the fourth course.
Results: The response rate was 61% (CR 2, PR 37). The tumor control rate (CR+PR+NC) was 89%. Performance status were improved in 51% of the patients. The incidences of side effects of grade 3 or more was anorexia 8.9%, leucopenia 4.5%, and nausea 3.0%.
Conclusion: These data suggest that SIAC regimen is safe and effective for response rate and performance status in patients with stage IV advanced gastric cancer, localized in the abdominal cavity.