Gemcitabine and continuous infusion of 5-fluorouracil in locally advanced and metastatic pancreatic cancer: a phase I-II study.
BACKGROUND
Gemcitabine has been recently recognized as standard treatment in advanced pancreatic cancer. To potentiate its single-agent activity we conducted a phase I-II study with the primary objective of establishing the maximum tolererated dose (MTD) of gemcitabine and continuous infusion 5-FU in patients with locally advanced or metastatic pancreatic cancer.


METHODS
Fifteen patients received a fired dose of 5-FU 200 mg/mq protracted infusion for six months. Gemcitabine was administered weekly for three out of four weeks for six cycles at escalating doses of 800 mg/mq to 1100 mg/mq.


RESULTS
MTD was established at 1000 mg/mq of gem citabine. Of the 11 evaluable patients, 7 patients had stable disease, 1 had partial response and 3 had progressive disease. Of the 14 patients evaluable at follow-up, median time to progression was 5 months. Median survival was 10 months.


CONCLUSIONS
This study confirms the good tolerability of the combination, of gemcitabine with 5-FU.
Department of Medical Oncology, Gastroenterological Sciences, University of Verona, Italy. coliani@univr.it
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C
Oliani
M
M
Padovani
P
P
Manno
D
D
Barana
M
M
Falconi
C
C
Bassi
G
G
Cavallini
P
P
Pederzoli
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GL
Cetto
D000230:Adenocarcinoma / Q000188:drug therapy*; D000368:Aged; D000971:Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D003841:Deoxycytidine / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000031:analogs & derivatives*; D004334:Drug Administration Schedule; D005260:Female; D005472:Fluorouracil / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010190:Pancreatic Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy*; D000093542:Gemcitabine
D003841:Deoxycytidine; D005472:Fluorouracil; D000093542:Gemcitabine