DX-8951f in Treating Patients With Metastatic Stomach Cancer

DISEASE CHARACTERISTICS:

Histologically confirmed gastric or gastroesophageal adenocarcinoma

Lymph node involvement and/or distant metastasis
No squamous cell carcinoma, small cell carcinoma, lymphoma, or leiomyosarcoma of the stomach

Measurable disease with indicator lesions outside the field of prior radiotherapy

At least 20 mm by conventional scan OR
At least 10 mm by spiral CT scan

Nonmeasurable lesions include the following:

Primary tumor
Bone lesions
Leptomeningeal disease
Ascites
Pleural/pericardial effusion
Inflammatory breast disease
Lymphangitis cutis/pulmonitis
Cystic lesions
Abdominal masses not confirmed and followed by imaging techniques

No prior treatment for locally advanced or metastatic disease

Prior adjuvant treatment allowed if disease recurrence noted at least 6 months after completion of adjuvant treatment
No known brain 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/mm3
Platelet count at least 100,000/mm3
Hemoglobin at least 9.0 g/dL

Hepatic:

Bilirubin no greater than 2.0 mg/dL
AST or ALT no greater than 2.5 times upper limit of normal (ULN) (5 times ULN if liver metastases present)
Albumin at least 2.8 g/dL
PT or INR no greater than 1.5 times ULN (coumadin independent)

Renal:

Creatinine no greater than 1.5 mg/dL

Cardiovascular:

No active congestive heart failure
No uncontrolled angina
No myocardial infarction within the past 6 months

Other:

No concurrent serious infection
No other malignancy within the past 5 years except nonmelanoma skin cancer or carcinoma in situ of the cervix
No overt psychosis, mental disability, or incompetence that would preclude informed consent
No other life-threatening illness
Not pregnant or nursing
Negative pregnancy test
Fertile patients must use effective contraception

PRIOR CONCURRENT THERAPY:

See Disease Characteristics

Biologic therapy:

No concurrent anti-cancer biologic therapy
No concurrent prophylactic colony stimulating factors during first course of therapy

Chemotherapy:

Recovered from prior adjuvant chemotherapy
No other concurrent anti-cancer chemotherapy
No other concurrent anti-cancer cytotoxic therapy

Endocrine therapy:

Concurrent megestrol for appetite stimulation allowed

Radiotherapy:

At least 4 weeks since prior radiotherapy and recovered
No prior wide-field radiotherapy to more than 25% of bone marrow
No concurrent anti-cancer radiotherapy

Surgery:

At least 4 weeks since prior major surgery and recovered
No concurrent anti-cancer surgery

Other:

No other investigational drugs (including analgesics or antiemetics) for at least 4 weeks prior to, during, and for 4 weeks after study