[S-1 combined with weekly dosing of cisplatin for metastatic gastric cancer]

We developed a combination chemotherapy, comprising weekly dosing of iv cisplatin (days 1 and 8) combined with a fixed dose (70 mg/m2/day) of S-1 (days 1-14) for patients with metastatic gastric cancer. The treatment was repeated every 3 weeks. Twenty patients were studied. Dose-limiting toxicities of grade 3 diarrhea and stomatitis were observed in one patient at the dose of cisplatin 20 mg/m2. Grade 2 gastrointestinal adverse reactions, such as nausea and anorexia, were seen in approximately half of patients at this dose level within the first two treatment cycles. This was the maximum acceptable level. The overall response rate in 18 patients evaluated was 61%. The median survival was 11 months, despite including 11 pre-treated patients. S-1 given with weekly cisplatin was a feasible and promising combination regimen for an outpatient setting.