Salvage chemotherapy in gastric cancer-more than a straw?

The benefit of salvage chemotherapy in gastric cancer refractory to first-line platinum and fluoropyrimidine therapy was previously unknown. A randomized multicentre study has shown that irinotecan or docetaxel administered as single agents improved survival compared with best supportive care alone. Hence, salvage chemotherapy is now a proven option in pretreated gastric cancer.