[Antineoplastic chemotherapy in advanced gastric cancer]

Antineoplastic agents are active in advanced gastric cancer. With great probability polychemotherapy is more effective than single-drug treatment. With respect to the definition of the optimal polychemotherapy regimen there is more speculation than scientific evidence. At present mostly combinations containing fluorouracil + doxorubicin as FAM or FAMe are recommended. With such regimens remission rates of 40% and a mean survival time of 5-6 months can be expected. In conclusion the results of antineoplastic chemotherapy in advanced gastric cancer are unsatisfactory. For the future are necessary, --intensive efforts synthesizing new compounds --further efforts concerning adequate investigations of all antineoplastic drugs active in solid tumours considering also new routes of administration (ftorafur oral) --qualified experimental and clinical research to elaborate active and well-defined polychemotherapy regimens basing on an adequate scientific background.