[Gemcitabine in elderly patients with unresectable pancreas cancer].
The efficacy and safety of gemcitabine at a starting dose of 1,000 mg/m2 administrated once a week for 3 weeks with 1 week's rest was investigated in elderly 11 patients with unresectable pancreatic cancer. Objective response was not documented. However, pain intensity, analgesic consumption and Karnofsky Performance Status (KPS) were frequently improved. In total, a clinical benefit was observed in 8 out of 11 (73%) patients. Toxicity was mild and well tolerated. These results suggest that gemcitabine had a superior clinical benefit and a mild toxicity profile. Gemcitabine should be the standard treatment in elderly patients with unresectable pancreatic cancer.
Hanada
Keiji
K
Dept. of Gastroenterology, Onomichi General Hospital.
Hino
Fumiaki
F
Amano
Hajime
H
Ooe
Hirotoki
H
Hirota
Yuichi
Y
Sasao
Shogo
S
Obayashi
Makoto
M
Kajiyama
Goro
G
D000368:Aged; D000964:Antimetabolites, Antineoplastic / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D003841:Deoxycytidine / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D004334:Drug Administration Schedule; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007262:Infusions, Intravenous; D017567:Karnofsky Performance Status; D008297:Male; D010190:Pancreatic Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000503:physiopathology; D000093542:Gemcitabine
D000964:Antimetabolites, Antineoplastic; D003841:Deoxycytidine; D000093542:Gemcitabine