ObjectiveTo evaluate the efficacy and safety of docetaxel (DOC) combined with oxaliplatin (OXA) regimen in the treatment of advanced gastric cancer. MethodsSixty patients with advanced gastric cancer treated in our hospital from January 2008 to January 2011 were randomly divided into two groups. The treatment group (n=30) was given DOC combined with OXA regimen. Patients in this group were treated with DOC 75 mg/m2, ivgtt, d1; OXA 130 mg/m2, ivgtt, d4; with 21 days as a cycle. The control group (n=30) was given DCF regimen. Patients in the control group were treated with DOC 75 mg/m2, ivgtt, d1; cisplatin 75 mg/m2, ivgtt, d1; calcium folinate 200/m2, ivgtt, 2 h, d1-2; fluorouracil 400 mg/m2, bolus 10 minutes, fluorouracil 600 mg/m2 civ 22 h d1-2; also with 21 days as a cycle. All patients received two cycles of chemotherapy at least. The effective rate (complete remission+partial remission), adverse reactions, median survival time and quality of life were analyzed and compared between the two groups. ResultsThe effective rates in the treatment group and the control group were 60.0% and 46.7% respectively, showing a non-significant difference (P>0.05). The appetite increasing rate (70.0% vs 43.3%), the weight gain rate (60.0% vs 33.3%), and the Karnofsky score improvement rate (63.3% vs 30.0%) of the treatment group were significantly higher than those of the control group (P<0.05). The adverse reactions were fewer in the treatment group, and most of them were between grade Ⅰ and Ⅱ. The median time of disease progression (5.8 months vs 5.6 months) and the median survival period (11.8 months vs 9.2 months) of the treatment group were longer than those in the control group. ConclusionDOC combined with OXA regimen is effective in treating advanced gastric cancer. It can significantly improve the quality of life of the patients, and it has fewer adverse reactions. Meanwhile, the median survival period is prolonged. DOC combined with OXA regimen is worth to be applied in clinic.