Irinotecan in the management of patients with pancreatic cancer.
Synergy with no overlapping toxicities has been demonstrated for the combination of irinotecan (Camptosar, CPT-11) and gemcitabine (Gemzar) in vitro. Results of a single-institution phase I study in which patients with previously untreated pancreatic cancer were given irinotecan and gemcitabine were promising, with two of three patients achieving a partial response. Because of the favorable outcome of the phase I study, a multicenter phase II trial was undertaken in previously untreated patients with pancreatic carcinoma. Data from other sites entering patients in this phase II study have been analyzed, and a multicenter phase III trial of single-agent gemcitabine vs the irinotecan combination in first-line treatment of patients with locally advanced or metastatic pancreatic cancer is underway.
Green
M R
MR
Department of Medicine, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, South Carolina, USA. greenmrk@musc.edu
Harper
M
M
Safa
A
A
Sherman
C A
CA
Mushtaq
C M
CM
Bahadori
H
H
Brescia
F J
FJ
Rocha Lima
C M
CM
D000972:Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000971:Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / Q000627:therapeutic use; D002166:Camptothecin / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D017321:Clinical Trials, Phase I as Topic; D017322:Clinical Trials, Phase II as Topic; D017326:Clinical Trials, Phase III as Topic; D003131:Combined Modality Therapy; D006801:Humans; D000077146:Irinotecan; D015337:Multicenter Studies as Topic; D010190:Pancreatic Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy*
D000972:Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic; D000077146:Irinotecan; D002166:Camptothecin