[Third-line CPT-11 chemotherapy for gastric cancer cases of non-curative gastrectomy or recurrence].

Background: There have been few case reports of 3rd-line chemotherapy for gastric cancer. So we reported the results of CPT-11 therapy as the 3rd-line chemotherapy for gastric cancer.
Patients and Methods: 549 cases underwent gastrectomy from Jan. 2004 to Aug. 2007 in our hospital. In 76 of these cases, which underwent non-curative resection or evidenced a recurrence until July 2009, were analyzed in this study. CPT -11 3rd-line chemotherapy was administered to 11 cases.
Results: The mean survival time of non-curative or recurrent cases was 16.9 months. Mean survival times of the non-chemotherapy group, the group administered only 1st-line chemotherapy, the group administered until 3rd-line chemotherapy, the group administered 3rd-line chemotherapy were 7.9 , 11.3 , 21.4 and 28.9 months, respectively(p=0.000 ). Adverse effects occurred in 90.9% of 3rd-line CPT-11, however, all cases were categorized in GradeI.
Conclusion: The group administered 3rd-line chemotherapy survived the longest. It is probably correct to administer 3rd-line chemotherapy, if the patient maintains a good performance status.