Second-line chemotherapy in gastric cancer following S-1 with CPT-11 chemotherapy performed as clinical trial

We previously conducted a phase I/II study of irinotecan (CPT-11) combined with S-1 as first-line chemotherapy for metastatic advanced gastric cancer. In the present study,second-line chemotherapy was given to 32 of 44 patients whose disease became refractory to this first-line treatment. Overall survival time of the patients given second-line chemotherapy was significantly longer than that of patients not given such therapy (444 days vs. 230 days, p = 0.013). The response rate to second-line chemotherapy was 13% (4/32). Survival time of patients who responded to second-line chemotherapy was significantly longer than that of non-responders. Second-line chemotherapy may produce a better clinical response in patients who have progressive disease during first-line chemotherapy. Overall survival time and time to progression after second-line chemotherapy did not significantly differ between patients who received second-line chemotherapy regimens including S-1 and those who received regimens not including S-1.