Docetaxel and Capecitabine in Treating Patients With Metastatic Cancer of the Stomach or Gastroesophageal Junction

DISEASE CHARACTERISTICS:

Histologically or cytologically confirmed adenocarcinoma of the stomach or gastroesophageal junction

Deemed unresectable and not a candidate for potentially curative treatment (e.g., surgical resection or combined modality therapy)

At least 4 weeks since prior abdominal exploration with resection (3 weeks without resection)
No other more conventional forms of therapy available with a reasonable chance of cure or significant palliation

Measurable disease*

The following are not considered measurable disease:

Bone lesions
Leptomeningeal disease
Ascites
Pleural/pericardial effusion
Lymphangitis cutis/pulmonis
Abdominal masses that are not confirmed and followed by imaging
Cystic lesions NOTE: *Patients having only lesions measuring ≥ 1 cm to < 2 cm must use spiral CT scan for all tumor assessments.
No untreated or treated but symptomatic CNS metastases

PATIENT CHARACTERISTICS:

Age

18 and over

Performance status

ECOG 0-2

Life expectancy

At least 12 weeks

Hematopoietic

Absolute neutrophil count at least 1,500/mm^3
Platelet count at least 100,000/mm^3

Hepatic

Bilirubin no greater than upper limit of normal (ULN)
AST no greater than 2.5 times ULN if alkaline phosphatase is less than ULN OR
Alkaline phosphatase no greater than 4 times ULN if AST less than ULN

Renal

Creatinine normal
Creatinine clearance at least 60 mL/min

Cardiovascular

No New York Heart Association class III or IV heart disease

Other

Not pregnant or nursing
Negative pregnancy test
Fertile patients must use effective contraception
Ability to swallow capecitabine
No prior anaphylactic reaction to any taxane
No prior severe reaction to fluoropyrimidine
No prior poor tolerance to capecitabine
No known sensitivity or poor tolerance to fluorouracil
No known dihydropyrimidine dehydrogenase deficiency
No uncontrolled infection
No uncontrolled seizure disorder
No chronic debilitating disease
No peripheral neuropathy of any etiology greater than grade 1
No diabetes mellitus
No other malignancy within the past 5 years except adequately treated basal cell or squamous cell carcinoma or adequately treated noninvasive carcinoma

PRIOR CONCURRENT THERAPY:

Biologic therapy

No prior immunotherapy or biologic therapy for recurrent or metastatic disease
No concurrent biologic therapy

Chemotherapy

No prior chemotherapy for recurrent or metastatic disease except for the following:

Adjuvant chemotherapy after complete resection of the original tumor
Neoadjuvant chemotherapy followed by surgical resection of the original tumor
No other concurrent chemotherapy

Endocrine therapy

Not specified

Radiotherapy

No prior radiotherapy except for the following:

Adjuvant radiotherapy after complete resection of the original tumor
Neoadjuvant radiotherapy followed by surgical resection of the original tumor
No prior radiotherapy to 25% or more of the bone marrow
More than 4 weeks since prior radiotherapy
No concurrent radiotherapy

Surgery

See Disease Characteristics
No prior organ allograft

Other

No concurrent brivudine or sorivudine