Comparison of the second-line treatment efficacy in advanced gastric cancer patients previously treated with taxane-based triplet chemotherapy: a Turkish Oncology Group Study.

Objective: This study aimed to assess the efficacy and safety of FOLFIRI and paclitaxel in patients with advanced gastric cancer (AGC) who were previously treated with first-line modified docetaxel, cisplatin, 5-fluorouracil (mDCF) or 5-Fluorouracil, oxaliplatin, docetaxel (FLOT). Methods: Patients, who received a triplet regimen in the first line setting and were treated with FOLFIRI or paclitaxel in the second-line treatment were included. Results: The study included 198 patients, with 115 receiving FOLFIRI and 83 receiving paclitaxel. The median age was 58 (range: 24-69). The median progression-free survival (mPFS) was 5.2 [95% confidence interval (CI), 4.4-5.5] months in the FOLFIRI arm, and 4.1 (95% CI, 3.3-4.6) months in the paclitaxel arm (p = 0.007). The median overall survival (mOS) was 9.4 (95% CI, 7.4-10.5) months in the FOLFIRI arm and 7.2 (95% CI, 5.6-8.3) months in the paclitaxel arm (p= 0.008). Grade 3-4 neuropathy was higher in patients receiving paclitaxel compared to those receiving FOLFIRI (p = 0.04). Grade 3-4 diarrhea was 8% in the FOLFIRI arm and 2.4% in the paclitaxel arm (p= 0.02). Conclusion: Beyond progression with docetaxel-based triplet chemotherapy, FOLFIRI may be preferred as a second-line treatment over paclitaxel due to its longer mPFS and mOS.