Postoperative (adjuvant) chemotherapy

Japanese investigators randomly assigned 1,059 patients with stage II or III gastric cancer who had undergone a D2 gastrectomy to receive either 1 year of S-1, an oral fluoropyrimidine not available in the United States, or follow-up after surgery alone.[12] Patients were randomly assigned in a 1:1 fashion.

Japanese investigators randomly assigned 1,059 patients with stage II or III gastric cancer who had undergone a D2 gastrectomy to receive either 1 year of S-1, an oral fluoropyrimidine not available in the United States, or follow-up after surgery alone.[12] Patients were randomly assigned in a 1:1 fashion.

The 3-year OS rate was 80.1% in the S-1 group and 70.1% in the surgery-only group. The HRdeath in the S-1 group, as compared with the surgery-only group, was 0.68 (95% CI, 0.52–0.87; P = .003).[12][Level of evidence A1]

Investigators in Asia evaluated the role of capecitabine/oxaliplatin as adjuvant therapy after gastric cancer resection. In the CLASSIC trial (NCT00411229), 37 centers in South Korea, China, and Taiwan randomly assigned 1,035 patients with stages IIA, IIB, IIIA, or IIIB gastric cancer who had undergone a curative D2 gastrectomy to receive either adjuvant chemotherapy (eight 3-week cycles of capecitabine plus oxaliplatin) or follow-up alone after surgery.[13]

Investigators in Asia evaluated the role of capecitabine/oxaliplatin as adjuvant therapy after gastric cancer resection. In the CLASSIC trial (NCT00411229), 37 centers in South Korea, China, and Taiwan randomly assigned 1,035 patients with stages IIA, IIB, IIIA, or IIIB gastric cancer who had undergone a curative D2 gastrectomy to receive either adjuvant chemotherapy (eight 3-week cycles of capecitabine plus oxaliplatin) or follow-up alone after surgery.[13]

The 3-year disease-free survival rate was 74% in the chemotherapy group and 59% in the surgery-alone group (HR, 0.56; 95% CI, 0.44–0.72; P < .0001).

Investigators in Asia evaluated the role of capecitabine/oxaliplatin as adjuvant therapy after gastric cancer resection. In the CLASSIC trial (NCT00411229), 37 centers in South Korea, China, and Taiwan randomly assigned 1,035 patients with stages IIA, IIB, IIIA, or IIIB gastric cancer who had undergone a curative D2 gastrectomy to receive either adjuvant chemotherapy (eight 3-week cycles of capecitabine plus oxaliplatin) or follow-up alone after surgery.[13]

The 3-year OS rate was 83% in the chemotherapy group and 78% in the surgery-alone group (HR, 0.72; 95% CI, 0.52–1.00; P = .0493).[13][Level of evidence A1]

Investigators in Asia evaluated the role of capecitabine/oxaliplatin as adjuvant therapy after gastric cancer resection. In the CLASSIC trial (NCT00411229), 37 centers in South Korea, China, and Taiwan randomly assigned 1,035 patients with stages IIA, IIB, IIIA, or IIIB gastric cancer who had undergone a curative D2 gastrectomy to receive either adjuvant chemotherapy (eight 3-week cycles of capecitabine plus oxaliplatin) or follow-up alone after surgery.[13]

Further follow-up is anticipated.