Efficacy of Irinotecan as Third-line Chemotherapy for Unresectable or Recurrent Gastric Cancer

AIM: To evaluate the efficacy and safety of third-line chemotherapy (CTx) for patients with unresectable or recurrent gastric cancer (GC) refractory to S-1 with or without platinum and taxanes. PATIENTS AND METHODS: We retrospectively analyzed clinicopathological and survival data of 26 patients who underwent third-line CTx. RESULTS: Irinotecan therapy (odds ratio=0.12, 95% confidence interval=0.02-0.38; p /=2 cycles of third-line CTx (odds ratio=0.01, 95% confidence intervaI=0.01-0.11; p<0.01) were independent predictors of longer progression-free survival in multivariate Cox regression analysis. In 18 patients (69%) receiving irinotecan, the overall response rate was 11%, and the disease control rate was 44%. Median progression-free and overall survival were 3.5 and 11.3 months, respectively. Ten patients (56%) had grade 3-4 toxicities, which were managed. CONCLUSION: Irinotecan therapy may become optimal and tolerated in the third-line setting to prolong progression-free survival by increasing the number of treatment cycles.