[Chemotherapy for advanced stomach cancer -- a controlled study of AF and MF]

In order to establish a standard chemotherapy for advanced gastric cancer, a randomized controlled trial to compare clinical efficacy of two regimens consisting of ADM, 40 mg/m2 q. 3W plus 5-FUDS, 4 mg/kg daily (AF) versus MMC, 10 mg/m2 q. 3W plus 5-FUDS, 4 mg/kg daily (MF) for advanced gastric cancer was performed by a cooperative group involving 82 institutions throughout Japan and the following results were obtained. 1. Of 82 evaluable patients with measurable lesions, partial responses were seen in 8 cases (17.4%) out of 46 patients on AF arm and in 4 cases (11.1%) out of 36 patients on MF arm. 2. Of 18 patients receiving cross over from AF arm to MF arm, partial responses were seen in 2 cases, while there was no responder in 11 patients receiving cross over from MF arm to AF arm. 3. The median survival time of a total of 119 patients treated with AF was 157 days while that of 107 patients with MF was 139 days. This difference was not statistically significant. 4. Patients treated with AF had higher incidence of epilation and clinical cardiac symptoms, while thrombocytopenia was more profound in MF arm.