Combination of trastuzumab and triple FLOT chemotherapy (5-fluorouracil/leucovorin, oxaliplatin, and docetaxel) in patients with HER2-positive metastatic gastric cancer: report of 3 cases.

Background: Trastuzumab in combination with doublet chemotherapy (cisplatin and fluoropyrimidine) is a standard treatment for patients with HER2-positive advanced gastric cancer. There have been no studies evaluating trastuzumab with more intensive triplet chemotherapy regimens in this setting. We report the treatment outcome in 3 patients with HER2-positive metastatic gastric cancer who were treated with trastuzumab plus the triplet FLOT regimen (5-fluorouracil/leucovorin, oxaliplatin, and docetaxel).
Patients and Methods: 3 patients with HER2-positive metastatic gastric cancer received trastuzumab plus FLOT. Trastuzumab 4 mg/kg was given with the 2nd chemotherapy cycle and was continued at 2 mg/kg every week with subsequent cycles.
Results: All 3 patients had a dismal prognosis because of their heavy disease burden, most notably extensive hepatic metastatic involvement. Patients tolerated the triple-drug plus trastuzumab combination well. All patients exhibited a dramatic clinical response.
Conclusion: This report provides the first evidence that the addition of trastuzumab to a docetaxel-based, triple-drug chemotherapy combination is feasible and highly active in patients with HER2-positive metastatic gastric cancer.
(Copyright © 2012 S. Karger AG, Basel.)