Treatment of metastatic pancreatic cancer with a combination of gemcitabine and 5-fluorouracil: a single center phase II study.
OBJECTIVE
To determine the activity and toxicity of a combination of weekly gemcitabine and 5-fluorouracil bolus intravenously in patients with metastatic pancreatic cancer.


METHODS
Twenty-one patients with previously untreated metastatic pancreatic cancer were included in this phase II study. The schedule was gemcitabine (1000 mg/m2 i.v.) and 5-fluorouracil (500 mg/m2 bolus i.v.) weekly for 3 weeks every month.


RESULTS
Four patients (19%) achieved a partial response and three stable disease. A clinical benefit was obtained in 7 patients (33%). Median survival for all the patients was 6 months. The treatment was well tolerated and toxicity was mild. WHO grade 3 leukopenia occurred in 2 (9.5%) patients, grade 3 anemia in 4 (19%) patients, grade 3-4 thrombocytopenia in 4 (19%) patients, grade 1 diarrhea in 1 (4.7%) patient and grade 1 mucositis in 3 (14.2%) patients.


CONCLUSIONS
The weekly administration of gemcitabine combined with 5-fluorouracil bolus i.v. is an active and well-tolerated regimen in metastatic pancreatic cancer. However, its efficacy is relatively limited.
Kanat
Ozkan
O
Department of Medical Oncology, Faculty of Medicine, Uludag University, Bursa, Turkey. ozkanat@uludag.edu.tr
Evrensel
Turkkan
T
Kurt
Ender
E
Demiray
Mutlu
M
Gonullu
Guzin
G
Arslan
Murat
M
Manavoglu
Osman
O
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000700:Analgesics / Q000008:administration & dosage; D000964:Antimetabolites, Antineoplastic / Q000008:administration & dosage; D000971:Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001835:Body Weight; D003841:Deoxycytidine / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000031:analogs & derivatives*; D018450:Disease Progression; D004334:Drug Administration Schedule; D005260:Female; D005472:Fluorouracil / Q000008:administration & dosage; D006801:Humans; D007275:Injections, Intravenous; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010190:Pancreatic Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000473:pathology; D016019:Survival Analysis; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D000093542:Gemcitabine
D000700:Analgesics; D000964:Antimetabolites, Antineoplastic; D003841:Deoxycytidine; D005472:Fluorouracil; D000093542:Gemcitabine