Treatment of pancreatic cancer with a combination of docetaxel, gemcitabine and granulocyte colony-stimulating factor: a phase II study of the Greek Cooperative Group for Pancreatic Cancer.
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate the tolerance and efficacy of front-line docetaxel plus gemcitabine treatment in patients with inoperable pancreatic cancer.


METHODS
Fifty-four patients with locally advanced or metastatic pancreatic cancer were enrolled. Gemcitabine (1000 mg/m2) was administered on days 1 and 8 and docetaxel (100 mg/m2) on day 8, every three weeks; rh-G-CSF (150 ig/m2 s.c.) was given prophylactically on days 9-15.


RESULTS
Seven (13%) patients achieved partial response and 18 (33%) stable disease (intent-to-treat). The median duration of response was 24 weeks, time to tumour progression 32 weeks, and overall survival 26 weeks. Performance status was improved in 33% of patients, pain in 43%, asthenia in 16%, weight gain in 28% and appetite in 27%. Grade 3-4 neutropenia occurred in 17 (31%) patients and grade 3-4 thrombocytopenia in four (4%). Six (11%) patients developed febrile neutropenia and one of them died from sepsis.


CONCLUSIONS
This combination is a relatively well-tolerated out-patient regimen for patients with inoperable pancreatic cancer.
Second Department of Internal Medicine, University of Athens, Ippokration Hospital, Greece.
G P
GP
Stathopoulos
D
D
Mavroudis
N
N
Tsavaris
C
C
Kouroussis
G
G
Aravantinos
S
S
Agelaki
S
S
Kakolyris
S K
SK
Rigatos
S
S
Karabekios
V
V
Georgoulias
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000971:Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D003841:Deoxycytidine / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000031:analogs & derivatives; D018450:Disease Progression; D000077143:Docetaxel; D005260:Female; D016179:Granulocyte Colony-Stimulating Factor / Q000008:administration & dosage; D006801:Humans; D007262:Infusions, Intravenous; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D017239:Paclitaxel / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000031:analogs & derivatives*; D010190:Pancreatic Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000473:pathology; D043823:Taxoids; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D000093542:Gemcitabine
D043823:Taxoids; D003841:Deoxycytidine; D016179:Granulocyte Colony-Stimulating Factor; D000077143:Docetaxel; D017239:Paclitaxel; D000093542:Gemcitabine