The type of pathologic response but not pretreatment parameters was associated with OS and DFS. Efforts to increase the rate of pathologic response and better systemic cancer control are warranted.

At the established MTD of S-1 plus cisplatin, the S-1 dose (50 mg/m2/d for 21 days) is lower in our study than in the Japanese study (80 mg/m2/d for 21 days). A multi-institutional phase II study of this active combination is currently accruing patients.

Sequential paclitaxel plus bryostatin-1 resulted in a superior response rate than would be expected of paclitaxel alone in patients with untreated, advanced gastric or gastroesophageal junction adenocarcinoma. Further development of this combination is warranted once an effective method to ameliorate or prevent myalgias can be established.