title: 5-fluorouracil continuous infusion combined with cisplatin for advanced pancreatic cancer: a Japanese Cooperative Study.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The prognosis of patients with advanced pancreatic cancer is extremely poor. To improve their prognosis, providing effective chemotherapy is necessary. The aim of this study was to evaluate the anti-tumor activity and toxicity of combined chemotherapy (FP therapy) using 5-fluorouracil and cisplatin in Japanese chemo-naive patients with advanced pancreatic cancer.
  
  
  METHODS
  Thirty-seven previously untreated patients with histologically proven pancreatic adenocarcinoma were treated with FP therapy. 5-fluorouracil was administered at 500 mg/m2/day by continuous intravenous infusion for 5 days and cisplatin was administered at 80 mg/m2 intravenously on the 1st day. Therapy was repeated every 4 weeks until there was evidence of disease progression or unacceptable toxicity.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Three patients achieved partial responses, whereas none exhibited a complete response. The overall response rate was 8% (95% confidence interval, 2-22%) and the response durations were 6, 9 and 12 months, respectively. The median survival time of patients was 5 months. Toxicities were generally mild and acceptable, although nausea/vomiting was the most commonly observed toxicity.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  FP therapy on this schedule had limited anti-tumor activity for pancreatic cancer, indicating that, practically, it should not be performed in Japanese patients with advanced pancreatic cancer.
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine, National Cancer Center Hospital, Tokyo, Japan.
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Nose
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Okada
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Okusaka
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Furuse
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Yoshino
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Ogoshi
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Kato
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Miyaji
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Hoshino
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Ariyama
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Suyama
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Karasawa
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Yoshimori
mesh_terms: D000230:Adenocarcinoma / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000401:mortality / Q000473:pathology; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000971:Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D001707:Biopsy, Needle; D002945:Cisplatin / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D018450:Disease Progression; D005260:Female; D005472:Fluorouracil / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D006801:Humans; D007262:Infusions, Intravenous; D007564:Japan / Q000453:epidemiology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010190:Pancreatic Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000401:mortality / Q000473:pathology; D015996:Survival Rate; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D002945:Cisplatin; D005472:Fluorouracil