Capecitabine in gastric cancer

Abstract

Double and triplet regimens comprising a fluoropyrimidine and a platinum compound, with or without an anthracycline or taxane are accepted standards of care for advanced gastric cancer. Capecitabine, an oral fluoropyrimidine designed to selectively deliver 5-fluorouracil (5-FU) to tumor cells, is safe and effective in combination chemotherapy regimens for advanced gastric cancer, and it is noninferior to 5-FU for survival. As capecitabine is more convenient to administer than infused 5-FU, avoiding the need for central venous access and the associated risk of complications, it is also an accepted alternative to 5-FU within perioperative combination chemotherapy regimens for resectable gastric cancer.