Stomach cancer medical therapy
Editor-In-Chief: C. Michael Gibson, M.S., M.D. [1]Associate Editor(s)-in-Chief: Parminder Dhingra, M.D. [2]
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Medical therapy
There are different types of treatment for patients with gastric cancer:
- Surgery
- Chemotherapy
- Radiation therapy
- Chemoradiation
- Targeted therapy
Chemotherapy
Drugs Approved for Stomach (Gastric) Cancer
- Adrucil (Fluorouracil)
- Cyramza (Ramucirumab)
- Docetaxel
- Doxorubicin Hydrochloride
- Efudex (Fluorouracil)
- Fluoroplex (Fluorouracil)
- Herceptin
- Mitomycin C
- Mitozytrex (Mitomycin C)
- Mutamycin (Mitomycin C)
- Ramucirumab
- Taxotere (Docetaxel)
- Trastuzumab
Drug Combinations Used in Stomach (Gastric) Cancer
- FU-LV
- TPF
- XELIRI[1]
Radiation Therapy
Radiation therapy (also called radiotherapy) is the use of high-energy rays to damage cancer cells and stop them from growing. When used, it is generally in combination with surgery and chemotherapy, or used only with chemotherapy in cases where the individual is unable to undergo surgery. Radiation therapy may be used to relieve pain or blockage by shrinking the tumor for palliation of incurable disease
Chemoradiation Therapy
Chemoradiation therapy combines chemotherapy and radiation therapy to increase the effects of both. Chemoradiation given after surgery, to lower the risk that the cancer will come back, is called adjuvant therapy. Chemoradiation given before surgery, to shrink the tumor (neoadjuvant therapy), is being studied.
Targeted therapy
Targeted therapy is a type of treatment that uses drugs or other substances to identify and attack specific cancer cells without harming normal cells. Monoclonal antibody therapy is a type of targeted therapy used in the treatment of gastric cancer.
Monoclonal antibody therapy uses antibodies made in the laboratory from a single type ofimmune system cell. These antibodies can identify substances on cancer cells or normal substances that may help cancer cells grow. The antibodies attach to the substances and kill the cancer cells, block their growth, or keep them from spreading. Monoclonal antibodies are given by infusion. They may be used alone or to carry drugs, toxins, or radioactive material directly to cancer cells. For stage IV gastric cancer and gastric cancer that has recurred, a monoclonal antibody such as trastuzumab may be given to block the effect of the growth factor protein HER2, which sends growth signals to gastric cancer cells.