The Editor
Current Oncology
26 June 2016
We are writing concerning the article titled “Metronomic chemotherapy with 5-fluorouracil and cisplatin for inoperable malignant bowel obstruction because of peritoneal dissemination from gastric cancer” recently published in your journal by Yang et al.1.
First, the study showed very interesting results. We know that malignant bowel obstruction occurs mostly in the terminal stages of gastric cancer, whereas fluoropyrimidines are usually given in first-line treatment2,3. In the Yang et al. study, patients were excluded if they had received chemotherapy or radiotherapy within the preceding 28 days; however, the authors did not specify whether the patients were chemonaïve. In our opinion, that information is very important to the interpretation of the results.
CONFLICT OF INTEREST DISCLOSURES
We have read and understood Current Oncology’s policy on disclosing conflicts of interest, and we declare that we have none.
REFERENCES
- 1.Yang S, Li S, Yu H, et al. Metronomic chemotherapy with 5-fluorouracil and cisplatin for inoperable malignant bowel obstruction because of peritoneal dissemination from gastric cancer. Curr Oncol. 2016;23:e248–52. doi: 10.3747/co.23.3010. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- 2.Tuca A, Guell E, Martinez-Losada E, Codorniu N. Malignant bowel obstruction in advanced cancer patients: epidemiology, management and factors influencing spontaneous resolution. Cancer Manag Res. 2012;4:159–69. doi: 10.2147/CMAR.S29297. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- 3.Park SC, Chun HJ. Chemotherapy for advanced gastric cancer: review and update of current practices. Gut Liver. 2013;7:385–93. doi: 10.5009/gnl.2013.7.4.385. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
