Capecitabine vs. 5-Fluorouracil: A Retrospective Study on Efficacy in Elderly Patients with Advanced Gastric Cancer

Abstract

Objectives: As the world population ages, the incidence of gastric cancer is increasing. This study aimed to compare the ef- ficacy and adverse events of 5-Fluorouracil (5-FU)- and capecitabine-containing regimens in geriatric gastric cancer patients. Methods: Our study included 258 geriatric patients with relapsed or metastatic gastric cancer at the time of diagnosis who were treated with 5-FU- or capecitabine-containing regimens in the oncology clinic of Van Yüzüncü Yıl University Faculty of Medicine between January 2006-December 2019. The patients were divided into two groups: patients receiv- ing 5-FU-containing regimens and those receiving capecitabine-containing regimens. Medical records of the patients (demographical and clinical characteristics) were analyzed using appropriate statistical methods. Results: A total of 258 patients (181 men and 77 women) were enrolled in the study. 96 patients were treated with capecitabine and 162 patients were treated with 5-FU-containing regimens. There was no statistically significant dif- ference in median OS and PFS between the 5-FU and capecitabine groups (p>0,05). Grade 3-4 neutropenia, grade 3-4 anemia, grade 3-4 thrombocytopenia , and febrile neutropenia were more frequent in the 5-FU group (p<0.05). Conclusion: Capecitabine was as effective as 5-FU. It is also more tolerable in terms of side effects than 5-FU containing regimens.