Docetaxel and Epirubicin as First-Line Therapy in Treating Patients With Locally Advanced or Metastatic Adenocarcinoma of the Stomach

DISEASE CHARACTERISTICS:

• Histologically confirmed adenocarcinoma of the stomach

  • Locally advanced or metastatic disease

• Measurable disease

  • At least 1 unidimensionally measurable target lesion at least 2 cm in diameter
• No known symptomatic brain metastases
• No bone metastases

PATIENT CHARACTERISTICS:

Age

• 18 to 75

Performance status

• ECOG 0-2

Life expectancy

• At least 3 months

Hematopoietic

• Absolute neutrophil count at least 2,000/mm^3
• Platelet count greater than 100,000/mm^3

Hepatic

• Bilirubin less than 2 times normal
• AST and ALT no greater than 2.5 times normal
• Alkaline phosphatase no greater than 2.5 times normal

Renal

• Creatinine less than 1.6 mg/dL OR
• Creatinine clearance greater than 60 mL/min

Cardiovascular

• No serious cardiac failure within the past 12 months
• No myocardial infarction within the past 12 months
• No cardiac insufficiency
• No angina

Other

• Not pregnant or nursing
• Fertile patients must use effective contraception
• No uncontrolled serious infection
• No significant brain or psychiatric disorders
• No intolerance to cortisone or polysorbate 80
• No other prior malignancy except curatively treated basal cell skin cancer or carcinoma in situ of the cervix
• No other illness or medical condition that would preclude study participation
• No peripheral neuropathy greater than grade 2

PRIOR CONCURRENT THERAPY:

Biologic therapy

• Not specified

Chemotherapy

• No prior chemotherapy

Endocrine therapy

• Not specified

Radiotherapy

• Not specified

Surgery

• Not specified

Other

• More than 21 days since prior participation in another clinical study
• No other concurrent experimental medication