Background: We previously reported that S-1 plus cisplatin was feasible as adjuvant chemotherapy for stage III gastric cancer after D2 gastrectomy. Herein we evaluate the recurrence-free survival and overall survival rates as secondary endpoints based on updated follow-up data.
Methods: Patients with stage III gastric cancer who underwent D2 gastrectomy were enrolled. Treatment consisted of 3 cycles of S-1 (40 mg/m(2) PO) twice daily on days 1-21 and cisplatin (60 mg/m(2) IV) on day 8, and S-1 was given on days 1-28 every 6 weeks until 1 year after surgery.
Results: From August 2007 to September 2009, 63 patients were accrued. Overall, 34 and 25 patients had stage IIIA and IIIB disease, respectively. After a median follow-up of 3.9 years, 16 patients experienced recurrence and 11 patients died. The 3-year recurrence-free survival rate was 74.1 % (95 % CI: 60.8-83.5 %, IIIA 81.8 %, IIIB 64.0 %). The 3-year overall survival rate was 84.5 % (95 % CI: 72.3-91.6 %, IIIA 87.9 %, IIIB 80.0 %). Recurrence sites included the peritoneum (n = 8), hematogenous sites (n = 6), and lymph nodes (n = 4).
Conclusion: The present results indicate that adjuvant therapy with S-1 plus 3 cycles of cisplatin may provide a survival benefit to patients with stage III gastric cancer.