5-fluorouracil, adriamycin, and BCNU (FAB) combination chemotherapy for advanced gastric cancer

Thirty-two evaluable patients with advanced measurable gastric adenocarcinoma were treated with a combination of 5-fluorouracil, adriamycin, and BCNU (FAB). Two complete and fourteen partial responses were observed, with an overall response rate of 50%. The median duration of response was 10 months, and the median survival of all 32 patients, 7 months. Responding patients had significantly better survival than the nonresponders (P less than 0.001). Analysis of the results according to pretreatment performance status, resectability of the primary tumor, and histologic differentiation of the malignancy demonstrates that only the first influenced the therapeutic results. The FAB regimen was well tolerated, allowing administration of nearly the whole of the projected drug dosages during the course of the therapy in all but three patients. These results indicate that the FAB combination is an effective chemotherapeutic regimen in metastatic or locally advanced gastric carcinoma. Incorporation of this regimen into the design of combined-modality treatment would result in improved prognosis.