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Since irinotecan, S-1, docetaxel, and paclitaxel were approved, therapeutic options for chemotherapy in the treatment of gastric cancer have increased. It is suggested that the efficient use of the primary drugs prolongs life in the treatment of progressive colorectal cancer. Also, physicians have discussed ways to take full advantage of the drugs in the treatment of gastric cancer. In first-line treatment in other countries, combination therapy usually includes the administration of two drugs, while in Japan, where therapies based on S-1 have been developed, the most appropriate strategy must be determined after reporting the results of phase III trials in 2007. In the clinic, treatment must be selected on the basis of solid evidence in consideration of the organ dysfunction associated with progressive gastric cancer. The timing of any changes in the treatment should be considered because the cancer easily metastasizes to the peritoneum. Throughout the world, various regimens have been developed that replace cisplatin with oxaliplatin or mainly use oral fluoropyrimidine. Molecular target drugs, now being evaluated in phase II trials, will also be used in the treatment of gastric cancer in the near future. Novel therapies will be developed in Asia and Japan where the incidence of gastric cancer is high.

Capecitabine, an oral fluoropyrimidine carbamate, is adopted worldwide. As the treatment for metastatic colorectal cancer, capecitabine showed at least comparable efficacy with a favorable safety profile to bolus 5-FU/LV. In a large phase III trial (Xeloda Adjuvant Chemotherapy Trial: X-ACT), as the adjuvant treatment of patients with resected stage III colon cancer, capecitabine showed at least comparable disease-free survival, overall survival, and relapse-free survival with a favorable safety profile to bolus 5-FU/LV. Additionally, capecitabine-based combination regimens with oxaliplatin or irinotecan are now under evaluation. In phase II studies, capecitabine has shown the promising results in combination therapy. In Japan, capecitabine has been evaluated since 1994. In a recent phase II study, which evaluated the global dose as first-line treatment for metastatic colorectal cancer, the response rate was 35% (95% CI 23.1-48.4). The median time to disease progression was 169 days and the median overall survival was 617 days. Hand-foot syndrome (HFS), a characteristic adverse event of capecitabine, was observed in 73.3% of the patients, but the grade 3/4 was observed in 13.3% of the patients and only one patient discontinued the treatment due to HFS. An immediate approval of capecitabine in Japan is expected.